Subject:
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Re: A brief reflexion on power sources
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Mon, 28 Jul 2003 18:17:13 GMT
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Reply-To:
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JAVANREE@antispamVANREE.NET
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Viewed:
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1291 times
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James Powell wrote:
> Decoders: Should be built into the motor, non removable. Cost for
> commercial
> decoders is ~19 usd for a "series 3" decoder with 1/2 function outputs.
> That is
> retail. Should be able to make them for under $5 when made for a
> commercial company...which puts them into the range of not breaking the
> bank (assuming that the train motor costs ~$10-15 right now to make).
That indeed sounds good! Much nicer than the $50-100 we're paying in Holland
for an average decoder right now...
> I'd rather see lego go with DCC protocol rather than developing its own.
> DCC is not hard to make (from an electronic standpoint), is mature, and
> has a world wide backing.
While it may be very common in the USA, I've yet to see such decoders here
in Europe. At most train shows I've visited so far it was usually Marklin
or Lenz, Marklin for the 3-rail AC fans mostly and Lenz for the 2-rail DC
gang. Fleischmann's system is hardly moving, just a few die-hards using it.
The DIN/NEM (German/Dutch) standards for digital model railroading pretty
much follow the Marklin and Lenz product lines.
> This would also allow lego to produce the bare minimum of
> equipment that is modified (I'm thinking of 4 things- points that are
> easier to throw, the train motor, and a accessory decoder that is in a
> ~1x4x6 brick or so...even perhaps a 2x6 brick and a slightly modified RCX
> 1.0 with more hardkeys, and a single output rather than 3).
Better points definately (please please please, also better geometry :D ),
and one simple universal decoder (2-4 outputs, perhaps some inputs too?)
> Use the RCX 1.0 design as the basis for the power unit, that gives a cost
> figure of ~120 for the base station, and away we go.
The RCX output would need to be redesigned right away... more than 2 motors
on an RCX is asking for trouble. The circuit easily gets overloaded.
Perhaps a new unit, but with the same chip? The electronics in the RCX
should be powerful enough for small to medium layouts, perhaps allow
connecting 2 or 3 together as master/slave for large layouts.
> Unfortunately, we have been whining about this for years, and nothing has
> yet happened.
From what I have heard so far : if LEGO trains start selling better they'll
listen more to what the adult market wants... but breaking into the model
railroading market is tough, specially for a "toy" such as LEGO.
> PS: with regards to 6 wheels in a train motor- it is possible, I am
> mocking one up right now...I'm going to have to get some brass to make a
> pair of my own wheels rather than using the lego ones though, since
> drilling a hole in the current ones tends to produce a offset hole that
> then means the wheel runs a little excentric...this will be with 6 wheels
> & side rods...wait and see how I do it (but it is NOT pure, let me tell
> you!- it does prove that it is practical though...)
LEGO could IMHO *VERY* easily have made 6-wheel motor blocks by using the
same technique from the old 12V motors again on the new block. The small
hole now used to clip in the motor siding could also hold a wheel which
gets clipped in.
--
Jan-Albert van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/brickpiles/
LEGO Santa Fe B-unit | http://www.vanree.net/brickpiles/f7b.html
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: A brief reflexion on power sources
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| (...) (URL) at the DN123 which is due out soon (moved back again, me thinks...). Even the DN121 which is what I am using is a retail for $20 USD/ 38 or so CDN. heck, I'm selling converted motors for $60/each (DN121, 1 output with resistor to 9V). (...) (21 years ago, 28-Jul-03, to lugnet.trains)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: A brief reflexion on power sources
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| Some thoughts from someone who has a little experience: Decoders: Should be built into the motor, non removable. Cost for commercial decoders is ~19 usd for a "series 3" decoder with 1/2 function outputs. That is retail. Should be able to make them (...) (21 years ago, 28-Jul-03, to lugnet.trains)
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