.

Did you contact Rapido? They are very good for that sort of thing. Their customer service / support is second to none. I am sure they can help you out.

Cheers

RailCrew uncoupler

Thomas,

I'm hoping that you will update us when the problem is resolved.  I have a 12-pack order pending and I would like to know if there are issues with this uncoupler before I place that order.  Thanks.

Jim

Wiring update

After a long call and some Skype and FB messenger inquiries. One of my electronic guru buddies figured out that the wiring buss from Rapido was backwards. Switching the four outside wires worked.  This solved the magnet-moving portion, but not the LED being lighted when activated.

A call to Rapido is on my schedule for tomorrow ( Thursday) and I hope to get this issue solved. 

RailCrew Uncoupler

Thomas;

I have installed 6 of these uncouplers in a freight yard and they work very, very well.  Tremendous product.  I did rewire the black and red leads off the switches as the connections were brittle or broken.   I also wanted to employ a different and consistent wiring color code for these switches.  I use a transformer of 16 volts to activate them with no problem.  I know the manufacturer stipulates 12 volts and I may power down to 12 volts eventually.

I have one switch operating a pair of units and another switch operating four units on a yard ladder.  These latter four were replacements for existing under-the-track Kadee magnets.  The first pair were in new locations.  The RailCrew uncouplers are a welcome replacement for the fixed magnets and are installed on a layout with handlaid track.  I hope to write up a post on the installation of these wonders as there are some things I have learned that might be helpful to others.  

As to the comment above about switching the four outside wires, this was not necessary in my case.   I followed the wiring diagram with no problems.  The LED lamps work fine following the instructions - remember that the diode lamp is polarity sensitive.  One electrical point that might help is that I soldered the ends of the wires that are inserted into the terminal strip because 22 guage stranded wire does not push in very well.  Soldering the strands together makes for a solid grip and good connection by the terminal spring clamps.

I have another 6 to install in the yard and will be getting another 12 at least to fit out other switching areas.  I look forward to operations with hands-off uncoupling.  Hope you have the success that I am having.

Q

Thanks Q

After rewiring the Buss and getting it to operate, ...somewhat. I was able to talk to the good folks at Rapido and they agreed I had one with the wires backwards. They also found out that the manufacturer is making changes in the plugs and terminal strips as they looked at one and it was was glued together. 

They are sending me a new buss wire and this should help. I am also stepping up my power to 12V 1ma power. I don't know if 16V is good for those tiny coils, but I'm sure they get the job done. The 12V 500ma supply I have was not moving the magnets the full distance for either coupling or uncoupling positions. 

keep the posts coming

Anyone who has anything to add, updates, photos, tips please continue to post. I bought a 12 pack and I'm still deciding where I want to install them so any install info will be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Bob

Finish line in sight

My new 12V 1ma power supply arrived today. When the new Buss wires arrive, I hope to do a temporary hook up and test it. If it works 100%, I will finish the video review and installation. I will post the YouTube video here on MRH forums as well. 

I have been asked for photos of the inside of the uncoupler. I will try and post those here as well. 

Thomas Gasior

Power supply

Thomas, you have a typo (I hope) in describing the new power supply, since you have repeated it in a second post I think it is worth mentioning so folks who might read this later will be not be confused.  I'm guessing your new power supply is 1000 mA, or 1 A, since 1ma doesn't make sense.

As Q pointed out LEDs only work in one direction, so likely you would have to turn the LED around if you reversed wires.

Railcrew off-on uncouplers

Well, I see al you guys are raving about these piles of junk.

Here is my review!!!!!

The toggle switches are junk,

The way the flimsy wires are hap-hazardly  soldered to the toggle switch is below grade,

The way the wires are attached into the connecting plugs is below grade.

Do not waste your money, Take it from me, I have had nothing but heart attack, stroke causing problems with these made in JAPAN JUNK PILES! I BOUGHT SIX, SPENT ABOUT 100 BUCKS, AND THREW ALL OF THEM IN THE WOOD BURNING STOVE. WELL NOT ALL IS LOST I GOT A LITTLE WARMTH FROM THEM!!!!!!!

  "AND THREW ALL OF THEM IN

Did you read the instructions?( for both the uncouplers and the stove) ..DaveB 

Almost ready for next test

I have acquired a more powerful power supply. Yes, my last post was a typo on the amount of power. I have received a new set of wires from Rapido, but have been too busy on other model projects. 

Now that I am finished with the Thousand Lakes Region convention, I hope I can get back to the layout. 

Railcrew off-on uncouplers

DUHH, was there instructions?  GEE NO WONDER I HAD TROUBLE, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND FRENCH

NEVER THE LESS, THEY ARE STILL JUNK,

Personal attack posts have been unpublished

Oops!

Sorry Editor

Go ahead and lock me out

The Railcrew uncouplers are still JUNK-Don;t forget in this country we still have freedom of speech and freedom of press and you Sir can not take that away from me!!

Freedom of speech on a privately owned forum

As a privately funded international forum, we have the right to make and enforce these rules:
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/posting_guidelines

Notice we did not unpublish the gist of your comments (we allowed them to remain), we just removed the flame-war attacks from both you and those who attacked you. This cartoon more or less sums it up:

It has been said that when you feel you need to slap down the "free speech" card to support your comments, then you've basically conceded the only only value in what you said is that it's not illegal.

XKCD to the rescue...

That website has proven more useful than it's author probably could have ever imagined... 

Power Supply

I hooked mine up to a Barrette Hills Touch Toggle bi polar switch machine and drive it with a 24 volt transformer which it only uses for a second.  As for the Blue LED for uncoupling I added a 1000K ohm resistor to burn off the additional 12 volts and everything works fine. If there is any complaint and it would be very minor is that a few of them rattle a little bit as the the cars go over them in the off mode. The other nice thing is in the off mode it will hold a car in place so it doesn't roll off should you have a slight grade and a very free rolling car.

RailCrew Uncoupler

I Thought I would share my experience with this product and since it has been available for quite a while now I am surprised to find that a few of the things reported haven't changed.  I have installed them into an already exiting track location that is ballasted.

The switch supplied seems robust enough but the wires and they way the switch is wired is dodgy at best.  I purchased 2 units and three of the switch wires broke off  just handling them out of the packaging.  The jumper wires between contacts on the switch were tiny and delicate and poorly installed.  On one switch they were overly long and on the other almost too short.  I'm not sure why they supply the wires anyway as they are too short for any possible installation scenario.  The uncouplers are supplied with a nice looking mounting plate for the switch and the indicator LED but there is no way to mount the LED to the plate and the hole is too large for an interference fit to hold it in place.  A proper sized hole with a plastic insert to accommodate the LED would be a whole lot better.

Once installed the uncouplers work very nicely EXCEPT that when some of my locos (diesels) pass over them the magnet position is disturbed which results int the LEDs turning OFF and marginal uncoupling.

I wanted to power them from a 12 VDC bus that I have on my layout but found that they caused so much electrical noise from operating that it adversely affected other electronic devices powered from that 12VDC bus so I have to power them from a separate 12VDC supply.

So overall, I am satisfied with them given the installation circumstances - I cant imagine trying to install the Kadee electric uncouplers now.  But they do not come up to the standard of quality that I expect from Rapido's products.

Dale Gloer

1 for 4

It is probably my fault, but aside from the minor issue with the toggle wires,they seem fine except after extending the wres between the switch and the unit, as well as wiring the toggle I got one to work properly.The other 3 not so much.. One only the panel light works. One the track LED stays on even when off.. The last not sure. I have the units installed so can't bench test .I have checked the wiring and can't find any issues.I am waiting for my hobby shop to get more so I can bench test the units,

                                                                                             Ray

Fancy lights

I’d give up the LED fascia lights for a better mechanism. It just can’t turn the magnets reliably every time. I keep looking at these little switch motors that use Arduino controls to improve or create a uncoupling magnet that rotates in and out of position. 

Totally different unit

I picked up the new unit from the hobby shop and it is TOTALLY different wiring system. Very frustrating. The original had a plug  to insert into the uncoupling unit.This made wiring simple. The new unit has to be wired in place using a TINY connecting device upside down in tight spaces.Frustrating and makes it impossible to bench test my wiring harnesses.  

New units.

It seems they might have changed things after some feedback. I watched the Rapido YouTube video about these when they came out, and it left me with the impression that they ( Rapido) used a third parties idea and is selling it under their banner. 

I hope they keep upgrading and improving it. I know Jason wants to use these in his passenger train operations on his own layout, so maybe that will spur them into making a bulletproof product for the rest of us. 

Upgrade

Tom

I would not call the change an upgrade.I think it  was done to save money. I got a second unit working today,but it needs more than 12 volts to work. I have a regulated 12v 1 amp power supply and it won't throw the unit.I am still having issues with the LEDs  I think the units are a great idea,but quality control and little more testing of the products would have been nice. As for the panel LED a drop of AC holds it in place nicely.

Railcrew Uncoupler

I'm planning a very small layout in N scale and wondered if these uncouplers will work well with N scale.  One or two ads described them as for all scales.