I have a few old trains that are around 35- to 50-years-old that run well. Some of these produce a sort of electrical smell as I run them. It's not a burning or unpleasant smell -- in fact, I actually like it! It brings back memories of me running trains with my Dad in the 1960s when I was a boy.
Just wondering if anyone knows exactly what this smell is and what makes it? I was running some of these older trains tonight & started wondering this again. None of my new ones makes it.
Thanks,
Rob
The arcing inside the motor as the brushes rub against the commutator produces Ozone (Three oxygen atoms bonded together as opposed to normal atmospheric Oxygen molecules containing two atoms of Oxygen). Or, it could be old oil that you smell. Some lubricants have a sweet smell.
nachoman Wrote:The arcing inside the motor as the brushes rub against the commutator produces Ozone (Three oxygen atoms bonded together as opposed to normal atmospheric Oxygen molecules containing two atoms of Oxygen). Or, it could be old oil that you smell. Some lubricants have a sweet smell.
Thanks, Kevin -- I have heard people refer to an ozone smell. I have also noticed that the smell increases after lubricating the locos, but I haven't actually lubricated any of these for months, so maybe it's mainly the ozone smell I'm noticing. Cheers, Rob
Rob beat me to it, but yes, I remember that smell very well too. It is indeed Ozone 'created' due to the arcing of the motor brushes.
So, the solution to the hole in the ozone layer is to collectively run all our trains non stop, and the amount of ozone produced should sort it out, if not, hey we're having fun playing with trains!
Koos
I was using an electric belt sander a few days ago and I had a hard time getting it started. When it did run, the ozone smell was heavy. I finally took it apart and found that one of the brushes had slipped and was only making contact on an edge. After fixing that, the thing ran like new and there was no ozone smell. Like Rob though, I'm not sure if I had an engine that was giving off that smell, that I'd want to try to fix it. I do remember it when running some old Lionel when I was a kid. We don't discuss how long ago that was....
ezdays Wrote:I do remember it when running some old Lionel when I was a kid. We don't discuss how long ago that was....
Why not ?
Despite what others may think, I'm not a fossil yet :o ........I'm still moving !
Slow............,
but still moving.
, and I do remember that odor. If I get out my Varney 0-4-0T, and run it, I could probably smell it again.
Sumpter250 Wrote:ezdays Wrote:I do remember it when running some old Lionel when I was a kid. We don't discuss how long ago that was....
Why not ?
Despite what others may think, I'm not a fossil yet :o ........I'm still moving !
Slow............,
but still moving. , and I do remember that odor. If I get out my Varney 0-4-0T, and run it, I could probably smell it again.
No, not a fossil, but I understand that you had to wait until they invented electricity before you could run it the first time...
But, having put together electronic control systems for more years than I can remember (yeah, we had electricity by then)
, there was always a few signs of when it was time to turn power off when being tested. A whiff of smoke, a sudden spark or the smell of ozone always told you that it was probably too late to save whatever it was that had gone south. I think running trains is one of the few times any of these things are acceptable, and sometimes desirable.
ezdays Wrote:. A whiff of smoke, a sudden spark or the smell of ozone always told you that it was probably too late to save whatever it was that had gone south. I think running trains is one of the few times any of these things are acceptable, and sometimes desirable.
That is until your fancy DCC sound decoder gives up the ghost!
Green_Elite_Cab Wrote:ezdays Wrote:. A whiff of smoke, a sudden spark or the smell of ozone always told you that it was probably too late to save whatever it was that had gone south. I think running trains is one of the few times any of these things are acceptable, and sometimes desirable.
That is until your fancy DCC sound decoder gives up the ghost!
Yeah, good point. For years, people have been touting the wonders of DCC. First there was motion and selection, next came sound. Now we have DCC smell.
Almost wants to make me switch.
Don....You really should give DCC a try. If you got a DC layout running without any electrical problems, all you have to do is disconnect your DC pack, and connect the track wires to the output of the DCC command station. (You gotta spend some green first....
) You'll also need a decoder for one of your engines (just to give it a try...)
If you've got blocks, set the switches all for one block or the other...and off you go....
You should also disconnect any other DC packs that might be connected to the layout....
I agree, despite the possible reliability issues, DCC is the way to go. it offers that much more control over the trains and allow for fine tuning everything. sound and lighting functions are perks.
Reliability issues..?? I don't think that DCC is any less "reliable" than DC. I've found that what might be called "reliability issues" have nothing to do with the system itself, but are more often than not, operator induced. I don't think the hardware itself is any less reliable.
Steamtrains Wrote:Don....You really should give DCC a try.
A little over a year ago, I was convinced that I had no need for DCC, but I decided to try it out and have never looked back. The NCE Power Cab is an outstanding DCC throttle and costs less than most HO locomotives. For a few dollars, you can pop a decoder in most locomotives, so you're not looking at that much of an initial expense, unless like many of us, you find yourself purchasing sound equipped loco's. Another nice feature of DCC. Operating a sound equipped loco on DC just doesn't get it.
I put inexpensive decoders in two Athearn CF-7's I had (took about 15 mins) and it instantly turned what were so-so running locomotives into great running locomotives.
Give it try!!!