Subject:
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Layout Electricity
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.loc.us.ca.sf
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Date:
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Thu, 10 Feb 2000 04:15:37 GMT
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Viewed:
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735 times
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Regarding restricting track voltage, I opened my controller up to see what
could be done, and actually, there isn't much in it. But 2 physical stops
could be added (glued) to keep the knob from being turned all the way either
direction. A 1x1 glued to each side of the original stop seems like it would
work quite well if you're out of other small plastic pieces. If you open one
up, you'll see what I'm talking about (look out for the necessary non-
conductive grease that is on the back of the dial and the circuit board).
There are six voltage steps aside from "off", (apparently in 1.5V increments)
so the knob should be prevented from making contact with the last step on the
board. It sort of corresponds with the dial notches on the controller's front
panel, so the knob should be prevented from being able to pass the fifth notch
either direction. (My voltmeter showed that midway between the fifth and sixth
notch the controller puts out a full 9V.)
BTW, the controller is not hard to put back together either, esp. if you put
the knob back into cover, and hold the knob and the cover by the knob. Make
sure the LED lamp pokes through its hole as you are lowering the cover back
on. (No user serviceable parts inside :)
Something to discuss in the meeting (or even here): one thing I'd like to do,
in addition to lessening voltage on show controllers, is to make a box that
supplies 9V and has standard brick terminals to supply a constant 9V to lights
and things. If anyone is into building telephone/power poles ;-) they might
add a touch of realism and functionality. Of course, we'd need to be careful
not to overload a circuit, so I imagine multiple boxes could be built and
located throughout the layout. (I wouldn't want to use the wall adapters that
already come with speed controllers to supply the voltage, because given the
action rolling on a track, a train is a variable load and maximum current draw
couldn't be predicted accurately.) Such boxes could be hidden underneath, in
buildings, or a "city power substation" :)
BTW, part numbers for the speed controllers are: 2868 base, and 2869 cover
(controller dial has no apparent part number :-)
-Tom McD.
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