03-27-2010, 09:56 PM
Still needs switchs, indicator lights, and meters installed in the door, then have to wire the whole thing...
![[Image: image.php?album_id=138&image_id=2348]](http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=138&image_id=2348)
03-28-2010, 08:25 AM
I think it needs a few more whatchamacallits, doohickeys and thingamabobs.
03-28-2010, 08:39 AM
Hi Gary---for a "technically challenged" person that I am,that looks downright scary 
---I'd have trouble finding the on switch 
Do you need a mechanical degree to operate it 
---seriously though,very impressive
---I'd have trouble finding the on switch Do you need a mechanical degree to operate it ---seriously though,very impressive03-28-2010, 10:27 AM
Man that is clean and slick looking! 
Ralph
Ralph
03-28-2010, 07:05 PM
03-28-2010, 07:06 PM
cn nutbar Wrote:Do you need a mechanical degree to operate it
No, but you need an electrician's certificate to design and wire it!
03-28-2010, 07:07 PM
03-29-2010, 02:06 PM
03-29-2010, 10:10 PM
My apologies for not responding sooner. Glad to hear you are interested in my project! 
The white time delay relay and the smaller ice cube relay next to it is for my electromagnet uncouplers. There will be a lighted pushbutton at each coupler location, push it and release and the magnet will energize for 5 seconds or so, allowing time to maneuver the loco to make the Kadees uncouple.
There are 4 sets of them, because my layout will be divided into four districts. There is a time delay circuit for each district. I am guessing that the layout will end up with about 25 electromagnets, about 6 in each district. The electromagnets draw about 1.5 amps each. The circuitry will be designed so that not more than 1 magnet can be energized in any given district at any given time, preventing the power supply from being overloaded. All of the circuitry is based on standard three-wire control like a start-stop station.
The two power supplies are salvaged from some abandoned control panels. They are 24 volts and 4.8 amps. Each PS will supply two districts, max current at any given time should be around 3 amps, so plenty of room.
The white time delay relay and the smaller ice cube relay next to it is for my electromagnet uncouplers. There will be a lighted pushbutton at each coupler location, push it and release and the magnet will energize for 5 seconds or so, allowing time to maneuver the loco to make the Kadees uncouple.
There are 4 sets of them, because my layout will be divided into four districts. There is a time delay circuit for each district. I am guessing that the layout will end up with about 25 electromagnets, about 6 in each district. The electromagnets draw about 1.5 amps each. The circuitry will be designed so that not more than 1 magnet can be energized in any given district at any given time, preventing the power supply from being overloaded. All of the circuitry is based on standard three-wire control like a start-stop station.
The two power supplies are salvaged from some abandoned control panels. They are 24 volts and 4.8 amps. Each PS will supply two districts, max current at any given time should be around 3 amps, so plenty of room.
03-29-2010, 10:29 PM
...and where do the Legos come in..?? 
Very professional, if I do say so myself....
Very professional, if I do say so myself....
03-29-2010, 10:40 PM
Ga-a-a-c-k!! Geez, Gary, you're giving me "wiring envy". I don't suppose you could suggest some reason that I'd have to install a third wire between my power pack and the track? You know, just to sorta beef it up and make it look a little more complicated.
Seriously, though, it's heartening to see good workmanship anywhere, even if I don't understand all the particulars.
Wayne
Geez, Gary, you're giving me "wiring envy". I don't suppose you could suggest some reason that I'd have to install a third wire between my power pack and the track? You know, just to sorta beef it up and make it look a little more complicated. Seriously, though, it's heartening to see good workmanship anywhere, even if I don't understand all the particulars.
Wayne
03-30-2010, 09:31 AM
Wayne, it is actually pretty simple. You may recall that my old layout used electromagnetic uncoupling and was discussed on the Old Gauge. I use O scale e-magnets under the ties of the HO scale track and they work perfectly. Anyway, most people use a momentary pushbutton to energize the magnet because you can't leave them on for very long or they get really hot and will probably fry. So, with the pushbutton, the magnet is on only when the button is pressed.
Now, the problem with the pushbutton is that it takes one hand to do hold the button in while the other hand is trying to control the handheld throttle to maneuver the loco to uncouple the cars... difficult to hold the throttle and make speed/direction changes with only one hand. So, I built a simple little control circuit based on relay logic to negate the need to hold the button down. Push it, magnet turns on, let go, magnet stays on, both hands now on the throttle, maneuver to uncouple, magnet automatically turns off 5 seconds later.
With me being an electrician, it is nice to apply my knowledge to the hobby. And, I am even considering running electrical pipe underneath the layout for the wiring!!
hock:
Now, the problem with the pushbutton is that it takes one hand to do hold the button in while the other hand is trying to control the handheld throttle to maneuver the loco to uncouple the cars... difficult to hold the throttle and make speed/direction changes with only one hand. So, I built a simple little control circuit based on relay logic to negate the need to hold the button down. Push it, magnet turns on, let go, magnet stays on, both hands now on the throttle, maneuver to uncouple, magnet automatically turns off 5 seconds later.
With me being an electrician, it is nice to apply my knowledge to the hobby. And, I am even considering running electrical pipe underneath the layout for the wiring!!
hock:03-30-2010, 10:40 AM
03-30-2010, 10:48 AM
03-30-2010, 10:52 AM
Yep, that's the part of DCC that scares me, thanks for the reminder