Regarding Revolution receiver boards, I know they come with the main board w/heat sink, and a small second board for non plug-and-play wire attachments. That little skinny second board, when plugged into the big board, does not provide much support for the main board and I read that many folks buy the Revo p.n 57078, “non plug-and-play,” board that is larger and has connectors on each end to fully support the receiver board. ($18.89 at RLD) In looking at RLD Hobbies website I see the 57078 board but also see a, “non plug-and-play board with circuit breaker,” that RLD offers for $11.00. It also describes it as part number, “RLD BTA Blue Tom.” So what exactly is this??? It appears it is RLD’s own version of the 57078, for less money with built in circuit breaker. Connectors look similar. But more screw connectors.

Can anyone help me understand the difference? RLD is closed until next week, so thought I’d ask here.

Thanks, Dennis

Hi Dennis… You confirmed your statement… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

“It appears it is RLD’s own version of the 57078, for less money with built in circuit breaker. Connectors look similar. But more screw connectors.”

Same type of operation, different producer… Looks like the “RLD BTA Blue Tom” has the added circuit breakers. Not sure what the extra screw connectors are configured but I would imagine (only a guess) that the extra terminals would be for forward and reverse lighting control…

On top of that, the new Precision RC company, who make the Revolution now, has re-used some older Revolution part numbers from the “Crest” era of the Train Engineer.

I’d go with the ones with the Polyswitches on them, although they look like 6 amp ones, not 3 amp ones.

Greg

Thanks guys. Trying to read a little more into this…between the lines: so it’s agreed that both boards I mentioned fit and do similar jobs??? Next, I’ll look back at respective websites to understand just what the, “Polyswitches” are that Greg, (thank you), mentioned. So I know which ones to get. If that is the RLD version, $11 is better than $18+. (Wonder who actually makes the RLD version…)

Dennis

Thanks guys. Trying to read a little more into this…between the lines: so it’s agreed that both boards I mentioned fit and do similar jobs??? Next, I’ll look back at respective websites to understand just what the, “Polyswitches” are that Greg, (thank you), mentioned. So I know which ones to get. If that is the RLD version, $11 is better than $18+. (Wonder who actually makes the RLD version…)

Dennis

Here’s the link on the name brand ones…

http://www.littelfuse.com/products/resettable-ptcs.aspx … hmm… looks like PolySwitch is the generic name, and littlefuse owns the POLY-FUSE name…

Ahh… Raychem, now owned by Tyco has the PolySwitch name… and littlefuse did not properly acknowledge the copyright…

I bought the Raychem brand, since my research indicated they invented it… http://datasheet.octopart.com/MICROSMD010F-2-Tyco-Electronics-datasheet-45906.pdf

ha ha, just a little extra information probably no one wanted…

Greg

OK! So Polyswitch is the encapsulated wafer on the RLD boards that look something like a square varister, or whatever I remember looking like that. That tells me the better buy for receiver support is the RLD for 11-bucks. Plus it resets. Thanks.

They are normally orange. They are often rectangular in shape, although round ones have been made.