Phoenix locos are UK based international distributors of high quality, affordable battery electric model locos,
rolling stock and loco bogies in 5 inch and 7.25 inch gauge that are ideal as club locos or in garden railways.

iDrive Information

The iDrive motor speed controller is the digital control system we fit in all our locos.

Rated at 200amps the unit is equally at home powering the 2 750w motors we fit in our larger locos and also in our 5” gauge Project Loco which is fitted with two 150w DC motors.

The iDrive is an industrial standard motor speed controller which can be configured specifically for use in battery electric locomotives. It has many useful features.

• Reliable
• Speed limiting switch
• Easy to install
• Compact
• Powerful
• Programmable
• Freewheel switch
• On-board diagnostics
• Battery condition display

The AccuCharge LED display will let you know the state of charge in your batteries and if you have a wiring fault it will indicate which area needs to be checked.

The speed limiting switch reduces top speed to 50% whilst leaving the travel on the throttle and the available torque the same as full speed. This is a great safety feature, particularly for novice drivers, or a railway where a reduced running speed is required.

The free-wheel switch turns off the system and isolates the controller. If you wish to push or tow your loco you can do so without the re-generated current affecting the controller.

We supply a small panel which mounts inside your loco and mounts the AccuCharge display and the two switches for the speed limiting and free-wheel facility.

This unit is supplied with a remote handset and wiring loom for you to fit in your own locomotive.

The handset features a large rotary power control and switches for forward/reverse, two tone horns (if fitted) and an auxiliary switch which can be used for accessories of your choice. There is also a Deadmans facility fitted to the handset which will close the system down should the facility be activated by the driver.

The iDrive system comes with the handset and control wiring loom as standard. We can also supply all the other wiring for your loco.

If you are planning a new locomotive or re-furbishing an existing one, just send us a sketch with the location of your controller, motors and batteries and we will make a complete loom which will include the controller, remote hand-set, control wiring, power wiring with fuse holder, fuse and spare fuse and all your battery connections.

We can also supply horns, bells, lights, relays, battery cut-off switches, fuse holders and fuses.

You don’t need any electronics expertise we can make the control system for your loco so that you will only need to connect your motors and your batteries and plug in your handset, everything else is pre-wired. The control system is supplied with illustrated instructions and a wiring diagram.