FREMO

Cab-control with Buswire and handheld controllers
as used on FREMO H0europe layouts

Since 1998 we have adopted DCC for the control of our trains - this page is kept as historical note.

Cab-control makes it possible to connect a given number of controls direct to any given section of track.
This can be arranged by interlocking pushbottoms, rotary-switches or short jumper cables in the track diagram.
You must make sure, that a track is never connected to more then one control unit or the units are connected in any other way.
Circuits for this purpose were published in the modelrailroading press. These refer in most cases to stationary layouts with one uninterupted common rail for all sections of track. With modular layouts with free geometry (eg. FREMO) there is no defined front or back and a common rail cannot be used. All electrical gaps and switches need to be of the double-pole type.

Controls can be normal powerpacks (at stationary layouts or as local control at modular layouts), handheld controls (WAC - WalkAround Control, as in use with FREMO) or wireless control units.

Only a true cabcontrol makes interesting operation on larger layouts possible (The only alternative would be DCC - Digital Command Control).

Bus cable

It was decided to keep the normal 'linemodules' in our system 'H0-europe' electrically very simple to avoid possibilities for errors. The below mentioned boxes and their connecting cable are provided by the club.
This complete set of hardware is known as 'Ringleitung' (ring cable), even if no ring in the geometrical sense, but a tree like structure is formed. The cable does not necessarely follow the modules, but will use shortcuts to connect all boxes and operating modules in the shortest possible way.
The FREMO-Ringleitung contains 16 wires = 8 pairs, their definition is described separately.

Connectors

To connect the several boxes, operating modules and the different sections of the 'Ringleitung' we use a Amphenol-Tuchel connector according DIN 41621. (DIN = Deutsches Institut für Normung, the german bureau of standards) The definition of the different contacts is on a separate page.

handheld walkaround controls (WAC)

make it possible to influence the voltage on the track right where the action is. The light units are connected to the layout with a four-wire cable. At a modular layout you will typically have several plugs to connect the cable of the controller to the layout or to a control bus. A description of the FREMO-control unit is available.

wireless controls

are now also on offer in Europe. We are very pleased with the Aristo-Craft products.
We know, that there are other manufacturers around in the US, but they are to our knowledge not licenced in Europe.

control names

we have named the different control units, which can be used on the whole layout with colours (Grey, Blue, Brown, Yellow and Violett). Units, plugs and Switches are painted accordingly.
There is only one simple rule: don't use plugs if the colour does not match with your controller !

Plug-in boxes

are used to connect the handheld controls with the layout. They should be distributed in such a way, that a good view at the points of interest is maintained and that the operator dont interfere with each other.

Control boxes

connect defined parts of the line or simple stations with one of the controllers. They are placed near the track they should control.
Usually also a plug-in box is integrated in the same box, but this is just convenient, not a technical necessecity.

At FREMO sessions the boxes will be clamped to the front of the modules and are connected to the buswire, which is laying on the floor, with a 2-3m long cable.

operating modules

like stations, junctions or industrial sidings, shall integrate the function of both boxes in their own switchboard.
For very simple situations a control box can be used, but in this case only the complete station can be switched from one controller to the other. For larger station with several tracks the resulting circuit can be quite complex, taking into account the different possibilities to reach each track from the line.
It is very usefull to provide one switchbox for each track which is used to hold trains. The station throut will receive is power via relays which are depended on the turnouts.
The plugs for the controllers should be kept away from the switchboard, a good place would be near the yard limit sign. Usually all operator have a good view from these points and dont interfere with each other.

Cab control in the future

We are facing problems with the availability of the mentioned Amphenol connectors and other electro-mechanical parts.
Therefore we are thinking about changing our system of control.
We are discussing two possibilities:

• change to Digital Control or
• Development of a new decentralized control bus

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