To LUGNET HomepageTo LUGNET News HomepageTo LUGNET Guide Homepage
 Help on Searching
 
Post new message to lugnet.trainsOpen lugnet.trains in your NNTP NewsreaderTo LUGNET News Traffic PageSign In (Members)
 Trains / 2781
2780  |  2782
Subject: 
Re: More Questions from Another Train Newbie
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.trains
Date: 
Mon, 22 Nov 1999 17:33:42 GMT
Viewed: 
865 times
  
Martin Legault wrote:

In lugnet.trains, Frank Filz writes:

Jim Rorstrom wrote in message ...


1)This has to do with the fact that the regulators output voltage are • slightly
different due to tollerance of the components.
2)You may NEVER connect the outputs from voltage regulators to each other
without a serie resistor and appropriate electronic cirquitry.
If you need a higher output current,you can use an other voltage regulator
capable for higher output currents (you need then also a heavier • transformer
too [more Amp.,at the same voltage]) .

*** Warning *** Not a Lego purist application ***

MRC Tech II throttles, well known in the model railroading world, solve • this
problem nicely.  I have a passenger train with two locos (4 motors) which • is no
problem at all for my MRC throttle.  I have had some of my train motors for
three years and have not burned any of them out.  A cautionary statement, • MRC
throttles are 12 volt.  This has not been a problem, however.  When I first
hooked up the MRC throttle I did some test runs with a multi meter • monitoring
the voltage.  I couldn't get over 6 volts without running the train off the
tracks.  MRC throttles also make it easier to pull slowly away from train
stations and coupling cars.


I also saw somewhere something about a new MRC throttle which has a switch
which divides output voltage by two. This switch would guarantee that you
couldn't put out too high a voltage.

As far as connecting multiple controllers, it depends on the internal
circuitry. The real problem you would have is that you have to run around
turning off all the controllers to shut down the train. For huge layouts, it
is probably time to abandon a pure LEGO solution. Use large gauge wire
feeders to multiple points on the layout. Also, if you place feeders
frequently enough, and make all the feeders the same length, you just create
a system where overall the train runs slower than if the controller was
directly connected to a small loop of track. Not a bad thing since the
maximum speed is much too high. This solution of course can be kept LEGO
pure, but it's going to be pricey to buy that many wire kits.

To make non-pure feeders, I would take the LEGO feeder, and snip the wires
about an inch away from the black cylinder (anyone know what that is? Is it
a current limiting device?). Then strip the wire ends, and solder to a

I would say that it is a fuse, never tested it but by the weigth it is to ligth
to be a coil and also because a capacitor would be better help than a coil.

More likely a thermal, self resetting, circuit breaker like the
controller and motors apparently have.

--
Frank Filz

-----------------------------
Work: mailto:ffilz@us.ibm.com (business only please)
Home: mailto:ffilz@mindspring.com



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: More Questions from Another Train Newbie
 
(...) If you open one up, you'll see it's nothing that fancy. A loop of metal, perhaps magnetic, that the 9volt wire wraps around once. I'm guessing it has something to do with RF interference, but that's a complete guess... John1, GMLTC (25 years ago, 22-Nov-99, to lugnet.trains)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: More Questions from Another Train Newbie
 
(...) I would say that it is a fuse, never tested it but by the weigth it is to ligth to be a coil and also because a capacitor would be better help than a coil. Martin (...) (25 years ago, 22-Nov-99, to lugnet.trains)

36 Messages in This Thread:












Entire Thread on One Page:
Nested:  All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:  All | Brief | Compact

This Message and its Replies on One Page:
Nested:  All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:  All | Brief | Compact
    

Custom Search

©2005 LUGNET. All rights reserved. - hosted by steinbruch.info GbR