 | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) Oh My Goodness! This is what I've been waiting for--when I priced out DCC controllers, they were 200+ CDN... If I can get one of my many RCX's to do it, well that's entirely another matter. When I originally did the research and found the cost (...) (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) As I run 12v stuff I dont know the 9v motor good enough to comment on the capacitors but I dont think it's that good an idea to use a resistor to drop the voltage. Use one or more (zener)diode's instead. Esger (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| <snip> (...) Hey Esger I'm not an electronic specialist by any stretch of the imagination (though not by lack of trying) But commercially available DCC controllers and stuff mostly run at 12 volts (from the research I read), but the RCX runs at 9 (...) (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) I (...) resistors (...) goes (...) run (...) the (...) isn't (...) reduce the (...) David, When I installed my first decoders (Digitrax DN121), I omitted the capacitors, figuring if the buzzing was annoying, I could always add them later. As (...) (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| In lugnet.robotics.rcx, Mark Riley wrote: <snip> (...) Mucho appreciated Mark. The Diode--any diode will do? and just solder it across the connector output? Take care, Dave (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) output? Dave, I used a 1N4002. It's a fairly common 1 amp switching diode. Here's a picture from my latest decoder install: (URL) that the banded end of the diode gets the blue lead from the decoder. The unbanded end gets the white lead. If (...) (21 years ago, 28-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) I don't install them either, and I have done something like 30 motors so far. (...) True, but ONLY if you are just going to use the RCX as a output. You can dial the voltage that DB100's (and most other Digitrax) boosters put out to a exact (...) (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) Resistors work fine due to the relative difference in cost. The accessory outputs of the earlier decoders are 100ma or so @28V or less, so at most you are dealing with 2.8 w loss (or 100 ma current draw). In order to drop from 14V to 9V, you (...) (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) Huh??!? Your basic resistor can only handle 1/4 watt (0.25W), so your worst-case 2.8W is more than ten times the rated maximum current. Even dumping an "insignificant" 0.5W across a resistor is probably not adviseable unless you are also (...) (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) I'm no electronics engineer by any stretch-- A diode, iirc, allows DC current to 'flow thru' in only one direction. What would a diode do across the output on the top of the train motor? And why would one be good for 'inductive' loads such as (...) (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) The problem with inductive load is that when current is interrupted, they generate large voltage spikes with reverse polarity. The diode absorbs these spikes and avoids destroying the driver... Philo (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) Sorry, my earlier post should have been more clear. I was just commenting on the fact that in general a resistor is _not_ a good way to reduce voltage to a train motor. And you recalled correctly: diode's are "one-way". Thats why you need to (...) (21 years ago, 29-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) Hi Dave, no you wouldnt need any resistors or diodes. Esger (21 years ago, 30-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) I don't know about you, but I tend towards .5W or bigger for most of my resistors, and diodes have exactly the same problem if you use them as a voltage drop. Load is not really signifigant on a 5A booster (soon to be 10 amps total...2 (...) (21 years ago, 30-May-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| In lugnet.robotics.rcx, Esger Abbink wrote: <snip> (...) Perfectly understood. Thanks! My problem has always been that I wanted to get into electronics, but all those resistors 'n such used to have all these coloured stipes to denote the different (...) (21 years ago, 30-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
| | | | | Re: DCC for the RCX
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| (...) hmm, color codes and being color blind dont really match well indeed... as far as electronic components go, I'm just a hobbyist. My day job is programming ;) Esger (21 years ago, 30-May-03, to lugnet.robotics.rcx, lugnet.trains)
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