jonhall Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Amongst the piles of things acquired from a members estate is a Portescap RG4 that appears to be in new condition, I'm guessing that an ancient HM clipper isn't the right thing to check it with, and that it might indeed cause some damage. At the club we use a controller derived from the EM gauge societies feedback design - would that be OK? Is it ok to run it 'no load' i.e. only the gearbox on it? Thanks. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Ideally a Pentroller, but if not available just use some straight DC from a PP3 9v battery or for slow speed 3 volts from two AA batteries. Running it no load won't harm it at these voltages. Do you intend to sell it? If so which version is it (measure the motor can diameter and length)? The colour of the box is also relevant, red or blue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stringfingerling Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I used to have several Portescaps in use on my 4mm layout with an ECM Compspeed F variable feedback controller (no longer available but probably quite easy to find?) before I got a pair of Pentrollers. The Compspeed resulted in slightly noisier slow running, but the control was incredible. None of the motors came to any harm. The Pentrollers gave virtually silent running (apart from on a 1616 Portescap which has a noisy gearbox). I'm still using the Pentrollers with my O gauge layout though I think I shall probably be switching to DCC within the next 6 months and selling the Pentrollers, if that's of interest. I'm holding on to the Portescaps; I don't think the locos they're in have much value (old RTR with brass chassis) but I might use the motors in 7mm narrow gauge locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cram Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Ideally they should be run an a pure DC non feedback controller. The Pentroller was specifically designed for portescaps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted August 12, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2014 I've always used the H & M walkabout, if you can get your hands on them these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 As the Pentroller is no longer produced, it has been suggested that this 21st century alternative be tried instead Buy now before the supplier closes down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted August 12, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2014 Staying with H&M Safety Minor is good, got a motor down to 4 rpm shaft speed. Commander - forget it, terrible with Portescap So basically with H&M, Powermaster and Safety Minor ONLY Gaugemaster seem OK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I have asked this before but didn't get an answer. Are Pictrollers feedback like the old Pentroller which was superb? I have AMR feedback handhelds which were set up for Mashima can motors and Portescaps when purchased, this was an option from Len Rich of ECM/AMR. They perform very well with a decent electrical supply but not so good in and around the London area, how do I know this?.... To the original poster - if you are just testing the Portescap to see if it's okay then virtually any controller will power it in the hand, it's when the Portescap is under load with an unsuitable feedback controller that damage can be caused over a period of time. Some feedback controllers are quite coarse in the application of the feedback so to be safe just use your H&M clipper to test the motor. If you were going to use the Portescap in service then yes, get a better controller. I've used and fitted Portescaps since their introduction (30 years?) and with many types of controller, more recently I've replaced all Portescaps in my locos in favour of the much more 'rugged' Mashima cans. Last year I bought back some locos I had built after a friend died and although being Portescap fitted they perform very well with my old AMR handhelds. Hope that helps, Dave Franks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I have asked this before but didn't get an answer. Are Pictrollers feedback like the old Pentroller which was superb? .... Not sure. My understanding is that they are meant to be like what Pentrollers would have become had they been developed further. (And, like Pentrollers, they are soon to become unavailable!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Not sure. My understanding is that they are meant to be like what Pentrollers would have become had they been developed further. (And, like Pentrollers, they are soon to become unavailable!) Hi Horsetan, I had looked at the Pictroller website previously and it doesn't mention 'feedback' or 'constant speed' at all so I presumed the were not feedback just a very nice smooth controller. I use a Pentroller on Retford and it's very good for shunting slowly but the Pictrollers seem to have more functions which would be of great use on my own layout Wharfeside but I do prefer a feedback controller. Maybe an email to Pictroller would answer the question once and for all, obvious really... Dave Franks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meil Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Finney and Smith may be closing down but they are simply one supplier. They are available and will remain available from Malcolm's Miniatures: www.malcolmsminatures.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 .... Macomb's Miniatures (www.malcolmsminatures.co.uk) "This webpage is not available" I think you mean this one...and they're out of stock anyway. *rolls eyes* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks to all - I was really only interested in testing it prior to onward sale, I have what I wanted out of the batch of bits and sale of the two RG4's could offset quite a lot of the cost of the lot. Thanks, Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 ....the two RG4's could offset quite a lot of the cost of the lot. What sizes are the RG4s? 1616? 1624? 1219? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 What sizes are the RG4s? 1616? 1624? 1219? One is in a plastic box with a red sleeve that has handwritten 1624 on it and the 'imperial' box ticked. The motor itself says 'escap 16 M11 208 1' and 'Swiss made2.87' the other is in a white box labelled RG4, Size Imerial Type C (handwritten 1616) ratio 34.46:1 ref 86483/1 and handwritten has 'Modified for M7', The motor itself says 'escap 16C 18 205 30 and Of Swiss made 04 96. The gearbox cheakplates are different (although the originals are in the box) and the gearbox looks to be riveted together, so the conversion may have been a 'factory' one? Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Interesting, thanks. Almost all of the 20+ RG4s I have are on the standard gearbox plates, except for two 1219s that were changed using MJT plates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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