Subject:
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Re: Aaargh. L272 IC needed.
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto
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Date:
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Tue, 17 Jul 2001 04:12:22 GMT
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Viewed:
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440 times
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In lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> > We're going to have to modify switches if we're going full bore after train2.
>
> I wonder if there is a way to cheat? That is, use track connectors to jumper
> the power to the unpowered rail. I have to take a close look at a turnout
> when I get home this weekend to make sure doing that doesn't cause shorts
> but I don't think it does with this (rather heavily insulated, the frog is
> divided, and the points contact plastic IIRC) turout design. This would be
> something to do for folks that aren't ready to butcher switches yet.
IIRC there are pads on the bottom of the frog where jumper wires that could
be soldered onto. But the track connectors idea is very doable, it should
work great.
> Tom and I were talking about what it would take to commercialise this a bit
> (recall if you will I previously said I would rather buy some converted
> motors than do the work myself because I am klutzy...) but we didn't think
> of the "build your own receiver" route.
If you wanted to start a side business of selling integrated decoder plus 9V
train motor type devices, then you'd have to cost the price of the 5300 AND
a commercial decoder, then also factor in the cost of yours or someone elses
time. All told, in Canadian dollars, it would be nearly $100 in material
costs alone, then labour, then shipping (even if you get people to trade in
their 5300, they still need to mail it into you.
It's really not that hard-If one's not capable of soldering an N scale
yourself, one really should reconsider DCC/model railroading as a hobby.
Scratchbuilding is probably the most fun part model railroading in the
traditional sense! Now Lego is a little different (ie, scratchbuilding is
not a major part of it), but it shouldn't discourage you from doing a DCC
install. You'll learn some new skills.
The truth of the matter is this sort of thing isn't worth my time to go and
try and make a buck on it. That's probably why existing commercial decoders
are so frickin expensive-they're common parts, but with production
infrastructure and overheads factored in. We'll probably do up 10-20 or so
decoders in a batch for rtlToronto members and call it that.
Calum
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Aaargh. L272 IC needed.
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| Having built a number of non-DCC reversing loops, I can tell you it's pretty straightforward to jumper using track power leads, as Larry suggests. It can get pricey if you're buying them from S@H, but I expect most trainheads have more leads and (...) (23 years ago, 17-Jul-01, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
| | | Re: Aaargh. L272 IC needed.
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| (...) Not sure I agree. I left traditional MR because I prefer the resiliency of the brick and don't have a lot of interest in soldering any more... (...) I think this is a valid argument in the general case but fails in my case for two reasons: (...) (23 years ago, 17-Jul-01, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Aaargh. L272 IC needed.
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| (...) I wonder if there is a way to cheat? That is, use track connectors to jumper the power to the unpowered rail. I have to take a close look at a turnout when I get home this weekend to make sure doing that doesn't cause shorts but I don't think (...) (23 years ago, 17-Jul-01, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
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