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 19:20:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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1305 times
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> That indeed sounds good! Much nicer than the $50-100 we're paying in Holland
> for an average decoder right now...
http://www.digitrax.com
look 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). These are not the high end decoders, but they work. And that is the
important thing- that they do work reliably.
> 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.
You're missing the point- Lenz IS DCC. DCC is the signal format, even Marklin
is close to DCC (Digitrax has a Marklin mode, for example...). So, whist
Waingrove, EasyDCC, Digitrax RamTraxx are North American centered, Lenz is the
major Euro maker of DCC equipment.
> Better points definately (please please please, also better geometry :D ),
> and one simple universal decoder (2-4 outputs, perhaps some inputs too?)
I'd like improved geometry, but I would settle in the near term for a reduction
from 2 to 1 of the catches in the points- and that is a LOW COST thing that lego
could do starting with the next batch of points it makes.
> > 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.
Extra power transistor, circuit breaker- should add very little cost to the TCX
(Train Controller?). I don't want to have more than ~2 Amps available, because
it makes things risky when you get a short. I'd much rather have Lego design
around allowing for multi TCX's using separate segments than have some poor kid
burn down the house because they were a moron with the wires. (2x9=18W, as much
as my soldering iron, and that gets plenty hot)
> 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.
They shouldn't be aiming at the "scale" market anyway. There is a fair demand
for "toy" trains, and that is what they should be aiming at- if I want to make a
scale model, I have 1/2 of my basement to do it in (Long Marton S&C in 4mm (OO)
scale). When I want to run a train, often as not I run the lego, because it is
more fun.
James
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: A brief reflexion on power sources
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| (...) Ah OK. I thought Lenz too had it's own protocol. Thanks for clearing that up. (...) True... wouldn't even degrade normal operations. While at it, the way the spring is held in place could be improved too, as well as the spring power (I've had (...) (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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| (...) That indeed sounds good! Much nicer than the $50-100 we're paying in Holland for an average decoder right now... (...) 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 (...) (21 years ago, 28-Jul-03, to lugnet.trains)
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