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In lugnet.trains, Stefan Garcia wrote:
> Six hours? Seems a rather horrid endurance to me, certainly in terms of
> shows.
If you have an rail-powered train running constantly on each track and augment
the layout by manually running an IR train on each track as well, then a set of
batteries will easily get you through a day at most shows. Use rechargeable
batteries and you can power them up each night.
I'm looking forward to handing a controller to kids in the crowd and letting
them run the train for a while. Give them five minutes or until they cause a
crash!
But if you want to run them by themselves, yes. Six hours is pretty weak.
More importantly, didn't someone mention a timer? I bet they work like the
Duplo trains, where they turn off after a couple of minutes with no input. If
you want an unattended layout, you'll probably have to rig up a Mindstorms unit
somewhere on the layout to transmit a signal every time the train passes by.
Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet. Unfortunately, this is a
very expensive workaround.
> Hm. I want to get my hands on one of these things and see what they can do!
Darn right!
--
Tony Hafner
www.hafhead.com
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In lugnet.trains, Tony Hafner wrote:
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Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet.
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Tony-
Huh? The Wired article specifically mentioned that the user group lobbied hard
for an external power port but did not get one.
-Ted
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I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is NO AC
plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
SteveB
In lugnet.trains, Ted Michon wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Tony Hafner wrote:
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Fortunately, the NXT RCX can run off an AC outlet.
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Tony-
Huh? The Wired article specifically mentioned that the user group lobbied
hard for an external power port but did not get one.
-Ted
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In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
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I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is NO
AC plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
SteveB
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Look here at picture NXT5.
http://www.vanree.net/fotoalbum/javanree/lego/frechen2006/MindstormsNXT/
You will see a power entry panel blank coming up from the battery compartment
cover plate. It seems possible that an alternate cover might actually contain
either a rechargeable battery pack, A/C power supply or both with access via a
receptacle accessible through this hole.
This is just a hopeful guess on my part!
JB
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In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Steven Barile wrote:
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I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is
NO AC plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
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Look here at picture NXT5.
http://www.vanree.net/fotoalbum/javanree/lego/frechen2006/MindstormsNXT/
You will see a power entry panel blank coming up from the battery
compartment cover plate. It seems possible that an alternate cover might
actually contain either a rechargeable battery pack, A/C power supply or
both with access via a receptacle accessible through this hole.
This is just a hopeful guess on my part!
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From this press release:
http://www.lego.com/education/mindstorms/images/eng/downloads/EducationPress.pdf
Features of the new system include:
- New 32-bit NXT intelligent brick
- Rechargeable battery system with A/C plug
- and then a bunch of boring stuff about sensors, servos, Bluetooth, and such
I did notice that it didn’t mention anything about IR in that section, so I may
be wrong about that potential application for a completely different reason.
And if I’ve been reading other sources right, it actually can be used as line
power. I wouldn’t bet my first born on it or anything, though.
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"Steven Barile" <sebarile@sstanamera.com> wrote in message
news:It09u2.CGF@lugnet.com...
> I played with the NXT and spoke with the product manager at CES. There is
> NO AC
> plug on the NXT, nor can it be powered via USB.
[ ... snipped ...]
USB powered would have been a reasonable compromise, that is too bad.
Mike
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring.com
http://www.ncltc.cc - North Carolina LEGO Train Club
http://www.carolinatrainbuilders.com - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=mpw - CTB/Brick Depot
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In lugnet.trains, Mike Walsh wrote:
> USB powered would have been a reasonable compromise, that is too bad.
Yeah but it would have been an expensive option I think. There would have to be
a built in DC:DC converter to increase the USB 5 volt supply to the necessary
internal 9v. And that means the only about 200mA would have been available
internally as the 500mA USB max was approached. This may have managed one motor,
perhaps.
JB
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