ON BOARD BATTERY R/C FOR BEGINNERS. 

Beginners to on board and trail car battery R/C often do not know where to start.
The following is a brief summary of what types of equipment are available, & what is involved converting to battery R/C.

EVOLUTION R/C

Each EVOLUTION R/C product has a downloadable PDF file elsewhere on this website explaining how to use it.
Although EVOLUTION R/C can use the old classic joystick R/C car style radio transmitter (TX) much better performance will be achieved with the new 2.4 GHz radios.

These larger 2-channel transmitters usually have VERY GOOD RANGE when compared to a small proprietary hanset due to higher power output and a long, telescoping antenna.  The really big advantage is they are VERY LOW COST.

EVOLUTION R/C Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC) are legal for use Worldwide as they use any brand of low cost 2.4 GHz Digital Proportional (DP) R/C which can be used for both ground and airmodels. They range from four channels upwards to 7 or more.  2.4 GHz is impervious to Radio Frequency Interference and motor "noise" interference. Special antennas are not needed.  Neither is motor suppression.

All EVOLUTION R/C Electronic speed controllers are compatible with Phoenix, LGB, Dallee, MyLoco Sound, and Sierra sound systems.

Accessories controlled by the transmitter can be programmed to either "momentary", or "latch-on, latch-off". One use for this is to engage dynamic brakes on a diesel so they stay on until you turn them off.


INSTALLING BATTERY R/C

Firstly you need to determine whether you want all the equipment on board the loco or tagging along in a trail car.
Each has advantages and disadvantages.

TRAIL CAR
A trail car set up is by far the simplest method and has the advantage of much more room for the batteries and equipment. Plus, the receiver (RX) antenna can be mounted up high away from interference. Another advantage over an in the loco installation is, that, you can simply plug one trail car from loco to loco. With some steam outline locos the tender is big enough to carry everything and is after all, a sort of trail car. In a trail car, access to the battery pack is also much easier if you need to change the pack. If switching on and running is your thing then trail car installations are ideal.

The biggest disadvantage is you have this "thing" always being lugged around behind the loco. That sure makes life difficult when switching. Also, having proper control of the loco lights and on board sound becomes a lot more complicated with a lot of wires running between the loco and the trail car.
Any of the EVOLUTION R/C Battery R/C systems can be installed in a trail car. If the trains you intend to haul are heavy, naturally you will need to choose one of the higher volt/amp (va) rated systems.
There are specialised INSTALLATION KITS  available for trail car systems. 

ON BOARD
Installing everything in the loco allows for far more operating flexibility. R/C equipment and battery technology is so advanced nowadays it is possible to fit some EVOLUTION R/C systems inside many "0" scale locos and even some "0n3" rolling stock.
NiCd and NiMh battery capacity is well over double what it was, even just 5 years ago, meaning long run times can be achieved without the need to keep changing battery packs. A very simple circuit is also available that allows the operator to plug in auxiliary batteries when running on the mainline and save the on board set for switching & light engine running.
Interfacing with sound systems is greatly simplified, as is wiring constant brightness lighting to remain on when stationary, and automatically change direction.
No more lugging a trail car around. Switching becomes a breeze.
The trade off is generally a more difficult installation as most locos have to be dismantled. This may be a daunting task for a novice. Creativity in antenna placement may be required as it must be kept as far as possible from any potential interference.
There are specialised INSTALLATION KITS  available for EVOLUTION R/C on board systems. 
EVOLUTION R/C suggests potential battery R/C converts read up on the subject at LS Internet forums.
EVOLUTION R/C also has published a number of HOW TO articles at various LS websites. These are listed with convenient clickable links elsewhere on the site.

There is a third category that is quite popular.
TRAIL CAR WITH BATTERIES ONLY.
This is where only the batteries are carried in the trail car.  Generally this method is used with AristoCraft locos that have the pigtail at the front and rear. The receiver, controller and sound system are installed on board and powered by the trail car batteries.  This greatly simplifies installation but the penalty is you will always have a "THING" trailing behind.

GLOSSARY. 
Here is a brief glossary of abbreviations used by this and other websites when referring to radio control equipment. We would appreciate feedback as to abbreviations we may have left out.
 
Abbreviation
 Explanation
RCS 
 Remote Control Systems. Proprietary R/C equipment for controlling model trains.
EVO EVOLUTION R/C. Momentum equipment for controlling LS model trains with 2.4 GHz DP R/C
BTL
 BELTROL R/C. Digital Proportional equipment for controlling LS model trains with 2.4 GHz DP R/C
R/C Radio Control
TX  Transmitter. Used by an operator to send the signals to the:
RX  Receiver. Either sitting trackside or onboard in a loco or trail car.=
MD Motor Driver. Which interprets these commands and drives the motor(s). When used with DP systems also known as:
ESC Electronic Speed Controller. Does the same thing as an MD.
PWM  A type of DC voltage that is often used to power the motor(s).
DC Direct Current. As distinct from:
AC Alternating Current. This is the type of voltage at the mains supply which is reduced and rectified to produce DC.
DP Digital Proportional R/C that can set the speed output of an ESC so that is relative to the position on the TX stick.
AM Amplitude Modulation. Used with low cost DP systems to transmit the commands. Very susceptible to RFI.
FM Frequency Modulation. Also used with DP systems. Suffers less from RFI.
PCB Printed Circuit Board.
PCM  Pulse Code Modulation. The least affected by RFI of the majority of DP systems. Used by RCS in the TX-24.
RFI Radio Frequency Interference. Can, and often does affect how the R/C systems work. Can be atmospheric, reflective or generated by the PCB motor driver and/or the motor(s). Usually requires some type of suppression.
PCB The fiberglass cards upon which are mounted the components that make the R/C systems work.
IC Integrated Circuit. Usually a small multi pin component that is often the brains behind how a particular system works.
VA Volt Amps. Another way of saying watts. i.e. the amount of power required to do a particular job. I prefer it to watts as it usually gives a true reflection of what power the output circuit is capable of. Eg 120VA is = to 10 amps at 12 volts. Or, 12 amps at 10 volts. Or, 6 amps at 20 volts. Assuming of course the equipment can handle the higher voltage. RCS equipment is always rated in VA.
LED. Light Emitting Diode. A small device that uses low voltage and current to provide a long lasting light source. Can be very high powered for locomotive lighting. RCS uses them on the PCB’s to indicate direction and acknowledgement of programming changes.
MAH Milli Ampere Hours. The capacity of a battery. 1200 MAH means the battery can give 1.2 amps for 1 hour.
NiCd  Nickel Cadmium. A type of battery Chemistry.
NiMh Nickle Metal Hydride. Another type of battery Chemistry.
Li-Ion Lithium Ion. Yet another type of battery chemistry.
Li-Pol

Lithium Polymer. Still another battery chemistry.