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Hello everybody, I have a train track that runs around the perimeter of my son’s bedroom on a platform that extends out from the wall. The problem is that the train seems to really slow down around the opposite end of the track from where the power (...) (20 years ago, 25-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Hi ! This is a problem we encounter all the time. The solution is quite simple - add extra power connectors at selected locations around the track. Use the long Lego wires (hard to get) or make your own - cut a shorter wire and splice in some (...) (20 years ago, 25-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) I agree with the advice John gave, although not completely with the "why"... the drop in voltage is, in my view, due to the resistance at each track sections abutment with the next. (...) It is in your posting setup rather than you profile, (...) (20 years ago, 25-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) If that's causing the trouble, there's a couple of things you can do. Clean the contacts with a pencil eraser to remove dirt, finger oils, and surface corrosion. Carefully apply a little bit of "contact conditioner", available at computer and (...) (19 years ago, 26-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) The GMLTC has this problem in our 'small' (approximately 100 feet of track) loop, because our larger 8-wide trains are heavy and we really work the motors hard. Our solution? Add another speed regulator! We put one at each end of the dogbone, (...) (19 years ago, 26-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) John, Two controlers on the same track? In the past, people have always said that two controlers on the same track was a bad idea. The explanation that was put forward was that the controler that was running at a slightly lower voltage would (...) (19 years ago, 26-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Hey John, Thanks for the advice. I don't have any pictures posted yet, sorry. If I ever get that done, I'll post something about it. I kind of liked the idea suggested earlier about simply running two power lines from the same regulator to (...) (19 years ago, 27-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) [SNIP] (...) Hi Chris, we have used even more than 3 controllers on one long loop at FGLTC shows. The controllers have not even been put to the same speed level. No problems occured, since the LEGO equipment is really sturdy and kid proof. I (...) (19 years ago, 27-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) What sort of trains are you running? The advice depends on this as it specifies the power requirement. My layout has a circuit of 106 pieces of track and I use parallel-connected feed wires, one at each end, so that the through-sidings on each (...) (19 years ago, 27-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Thanks for the info, Mark. The train I am running is one of the Large Locomotives (Item#: KT105). I have 5 passenger cars (Item#: 10015), and 1 caboose (Item#: 10014). Total of 1 motor. I was thinking that maybe I had too many cars on it, but (...) (19 years ago, 27-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) Hello, Just something I thought of that may be worth bringing up as trouble shooting your problem would be making sure that your layout around the perimeter of your son's room is level all around. Sure it sounds like a power issue in the far (...) (19 years ago, 28-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Good thought, Patrick. Thanks. I didn't build the framework that the track rides on--it was in the house when I bought it, so I didn't think to check how level it was. Mark (19 years ago, 28-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) What about amperage? We had a problem at our current train show at the Palo Alto museum where the outer loop was performing very badly. We tried adding new connectors but to no avail. Turned out we were using an underpowered power supply - we (...) (19 years ago, 31-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Hello, It's look like you were using a few motor on that outer loop. With a single Lego regulator which can supply about 1A (1000mA) you can run 2-3 motors. Each motor use about 300~350mA under normal load. If you run heavy train they need (...) (19 years ago, 31-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: How do I power a long track?
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(...) Ah hah! Yes, thats a problem I've been modifying the LUCNY controllers. New bridge recitifier diodes (5A). Bigger reservoir cap (25,000uF) and a better chip (LTC1084 or LTC1085). This is pin and function compatible with the chip in there but (...) (19 years ago, 31-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains)
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