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  Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Hi All, I just got a Mindstorms 1.5 and the RCX does *NOT* have an AC jack! So if you plan to power the rails from a stationary location, plan on having a lot of batteries or a rechargable battery setup... I called LEGO Consumer Affairs and they are (...) (25 years ago, 20-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Steve, AFAIK, the two RCX versions are identical, apart from the power jack that is. Regards, Arjen "sebarile-MOBL" <steve.e.barile@intel.com> wrote in message news:Fn1xFt.H1C@lugnet.com... (...) you (...) of (...) it (...) Is (...) (25 years ago, 20-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Steve, and anyone else interested, There should be another way to power the RCX, but I'm not sure if you can get the stuff to do it anymore. (if TLG is replacing them with the old stock 'with a good reason' then that is the best way to go) You used (...) (25 years ago, 20-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
(...) This is the big 'down side' of the 1.5. The computers themselves are identical, and you can run 1.5 software on the older brick. For the educational market (dacta stuff), Lego are still supplying all the units with the jacks. The suggestion is (...) (25 years ago, 20-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Consumer Affairs told me that after talking to many focus groups that they decided it was not used and thus cut for cost savings again (standard good corp practice)... and good for them, it seems like they need to cut some corners to stay in (...) (25 years ago, 20-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
sebarile-MOBL <steve.e.barile@intel.com> wrote in message news:Fn2CqL.AHF@lugnet.com... (...) That is one bad corner to cut! I use a jack sometimes, batteries more often though. I was just laying on the couch the other day thinking I needed a (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Steven and Rogers just make sure that when you use the jack on the RCX use an adapter that LEGO makes like the one that comes with the train controller. This one is also designed for the RCX. A while back this information was posted on lugnet. Do a (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Uhhhh, gee, I just used some extra-long wires I got from Dacta to extend the console over to next to the couch, and plugged it in there ;-) But yeah, I want to get a couple of IR remotes too, for when I take an 8448 to work, and for my future train (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
(...) Despite the fact that a lot of people here use wall power, I think that CA is probably right in that the vast majority of mindstorms robots are vehicles. Ah well. Something for "Dear Lego".... (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
If there is a "cost" issue between the 1.0 and 1.5, Has anyone seen the savings passed on to the buyers? Probably too mutch to ask.... ;-) -Rich (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
(...) savings (...) Well, lets think, a rectification bridge, a voltage regulator, and an external power connector. In 'trade' quantities, you are talking well under 50 cents (probably more like 20 cents). If Lego are paying much more than this for (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Even if it was $0.20 by the time it is productized it is maybe $1.00. Multiply this by the quantity sold and you just save ~$500,000 (whatever the quantity is). When designing computer mother boards there will be large debates over $0.05 BOM (bill (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
Yes RIS 1.5 costs $20 MORE than RIS1.0. It's a good thing I bought 9 RIS 1.0 and the 1.5 upgrade ;-) (...) -- | Tom Stangl, Technical Support Netscape Communications Corp | Please do not associate my personal views with my employer (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)
 
  Re: Powering trains w/ RCX
 
I was talking more in a sense of replacement/repair of damaged units. I would not be surprised if the retail price of each starts to change with shifts in demand. And due to the "apparently common" replacement of the brick with AC, that would have (...) (25 years ago, 21-Dec-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.robotics.rcx)

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