 | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Benn- In my experience keeping SCLTC trains running for the last 6 years (including a 10 week, 6 day a week show every year), what kills the train motors is erosion of metal contacts that pick up electricity from the rails. The contacts wear (...) (19 years ago, 10-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) <snip> (...) One evening, way back in 1991, I was pushing a baby stroller thru Toys R Us. My son, Graham, 2 years old, in the stroller. We went over to the toy train area - because I was looking forward to the day in the futrure when we could (...) (19 years ago, 9-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) You are right, the main limitation probably comes from wall wart... You are essentially right for the 0.7A current (though it is not hard limit, rather a safety one). Philo (19 years ago, 9-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt, lugnet.trains)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) The Australian LEGO wall wart is marked 10V @ 7VA on the secondary. I don't recall all the stuff I learnt about the relationship between VA and W, but that seems to me to indicate about 0.7A. I believe this generally reduces as load increases, (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt, lugnet.trains)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) I did some research on this several years ago. At the time it was to pursue the idea of wider radii curves. But now it's of even more interest with the 9v track going away. I drew up several different ideas, and even contacted someone in a (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
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| I apologize for the inability (both in time and mental stamina) to read this entire thread. But I feel the need to offer an easily-backwards compatible alternative to the power supplies thus far mentioned... No need to recharge underpowered (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) At BayLTC we usually run four train motors on one loop using stock Controller with a 1.2 amp wall wart. Bruce (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt, lugnet.trains)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) The linear regulator inside is a 1.5A version if I remember well, but I may be wrong. Cross posted to lugnet.trains trying to get train guru opinion... Philo (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt, lugnet.trains)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Philo kindly corrected me, pointing out that the NXT outputs are regulated down to 1 A, so you couldn't run a dual-truck train all the way to stall. You could still get a good bit of the way there, however. Does anyone know what the peak (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Ah, thank you - so running two stalled train motors would exceed the NXT output, but running one train motor up to a stall conditions should be fine. Out of curiosity, along with the output limitations on the NXT (1 A) and RCX (500 mA), does (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Some precisions here: - NXT stall current is 2A but only for a short time: internal thermal protection will trip at a current much lower than that (exact value depends on temperature and overload duration). A practical value is about 1A - NXT (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) So it sounds like a single loop should be no problem under most situations, since I'm not sure I've heard of anyone running three motors on a single train (there's the same issue with how much amperage a power regulator can push). (...) It (...) (19 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Stalled, the train motor pulls 950 mA, while the stall current of the NXT motor is a whopping 2 Amps. So a single NXT motor output should easily handle a twin-engine train loaded to the point where it stalls the engine(s)... there's the matter (...) (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| Again I may be missing something, and perhaps the future of LEGO's solution, as yet unknown looms as a possible roadblock--but why for example could not the various train clubs come up with a standard piece--get together--gurantee a certain number (...) (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Hi Ben, I do not see so much need for a full system: the biggest need is for straight track and possibly new curve radius. The aftermarket will offer used 9V switches for the next 20 years. Some people will switch to the new battery trains. (...) (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Fair enough, but clearly the idea has sparked some interest, so I'm sure I'll see it get put into use at some point. (...) The ports may be able to pour out power, as you say, but I'd say it's equally well established that large trains with (...) (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Talk to Ondrew Hartigan. He's already tracked down a company that can provide an replacement, even if they're not the company that manufactured the original units. (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) I am sorry to hear the news, but I am not surprised. There are two things Lego can do to help the transition on those of us with a large investment in the 9v system. 1) the most consumable element in the 9v system is the train motor. But in (...) (19 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| Well I get back from a relaxing break and I am greeted with this announcement. I am sad of course, but I am not surprised. I have been slowly purchasing track, motors, and regulators in anticipation of this day and I know of many others who have (...) (19 years ago, 6-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego)
| | |  | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) As Ross mentioned, I was focused more on the "future" of trains, and if it's going to be done in LEGO, it looks like it will be done without conductive track. (...) Absolutely, but you could do better. Run a single loop off a single output, (...) (19 years ago, 6-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, lugnet.robotics.nxt)
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