DC - Electrical

Alpine Railroad in NJ

I have been building an Alpine scene railroad in DCC and DC over the last few years in Z scale and have been inspired by other great blogs to start my own and record my progress/trials/tribulatons. I have learned so much from other member's comments in other blogs and I am hoping my story will help others and I may be lcky enough to have some of my questions answered my my hurtles overcome.

New to model trains, wanting to set up for disabled child

I am wanting to get a set up for my disabled child. He has physical as well as cognitive issues. I don’t want to continue to purchase battery operated trains with cheap plastic track that he is unable to manipulate without breaking the tabs. He also has issues with getting the cars to sit on the tracks correctly so that they will run around without falling off. I just need to know a starting point as I have no clue with anything means or what’s available for disabled people in regards to model trains. I don’t understand the difference in gauge, dc, doc power, etc.

16 VAC transformer

Hi, I've got an electrical question, hoping someone here can help. I found 2 wall-wart transformers from an old phone system, which I thought were DC output, but they aren't. Their output is 16 VAC, 250mA.

So, the question is, what could they be used for on the railroad (N-scale, if that matters)? I know pretty much everything is DC-powered, so I'm thinking they might not be of any use, but thought I'd get some advice before throwing them out. Who knows, might be useful for something.

 

Thanks

Jim at BSME's picture

Extended: Berrett Hill trains small business Saturday sale

​Berrett Hill trains, a MRH sponsor, is having a 10% off sale of all their in stock touch toggle products.

How do I get rid of LED flicker when in DC reverse mode?

I recently added flat top 12v LED's to two of my diesel locos and they are great except for one thing, they flicker when the engine is in reverse. These LED's came with resistors already installed which was a time saver but now if I wanted to add a reverse protection diode it would be almost impossible to do without destroying the LED. While searching for the answer to this problem, I came across the following circuit on this list and am wondering if this will work to eliminate the reverse flickering?

geoffb's picture

SMA26 Revised TwinT Block Detector for DC and DCC Train Detection

I rarely run with DC train control. Yes, certainly in bench testing and on a test loop I will exercise DC models, but my focus is on DCC control, for the most part. Recently, I had an impassioned request for help with block detection on a DC layout, with a specific request to use the “venerable” Twin-T detector circuit. It led me down a path that I did not expect, and to this report, that may be of interest to modelers

.

Semaphore Operation

Hey all, looking to operate my SP style dual semaphores. I've seen the tech out their by tam valley etc but my problem is, is that I have dual dc analog motors connected to operate my signals. Is their a simple diy cheap way of operating them while the block is occupied? I was thinking of an photo cell sensor so when its triggered at point A arm moves and does not go back until the next point is reached. Any ideas? Thanks!

Light effcts

Hello all,

I was try to make new better videos of my light effects. (description)

First one is welding. I added small sound effect, It more impress people watching model, especially the sound is little low (they hear but do not trust).

Second one is small fireplace - better in locomotive

Animated LED Sign on Boxcars - Change Message with Bluetooth from Phone

A pair of boxcars on our club garden railroad contains 8 large LED matrix displays that scroll a message for visitors to see.

The message can be changed via Bluetooth from a cell phone, tablet or laptop.  You can also change such things as the brightness, scroll direction and scroll speed.


>> Posts index Syndicate content


Journals/Blogs

Recent Blog posts: