05-30-2010, 08:50 PM
Yesterday I spent a good while getting all my e-mags ready for the layout in the new building. Since they go under the track, they have to go in before the track goes down.
First, here is a photo of an almost finished magnet. Just needs the wiring connections.
I did alot of experimenting a couple years ago to make the Kadee system work flawlessly. With the regular HO single coil kit, the coupler/spring/draft box had to be adjusted and maintained meticuously to get 100% operation. That was tough to do. The nost common flaw was the couplers not moving far enough to the side to uncouple. So, I decided that a stronger magnet would be more likely to function correctly, even with less than perfect coupler adjustment.
So, what I did was use the Kadee O scale kit. This has 2 coils, so more magnetizing force. I wire the coils in series and operate them at 24 volts.
As you can see, I added some extra steel plates on the sides to more strongly focus the magnetic flux. I also added an aluminum plate to each side for mounting purposes. Since these mags will be installed up through 1/4" of plywood, 2" of foam, and the roadbed, the aluminum plates extend down with a 90 degree bend at the bottom so they can be screwed to the 1/4" plywood.
Here is a photo of all the parts. The stuff on the left is extra stuff I fabricated, stuff on the right is factory. I threw the ridiculous factory "thru-the-ties" plastic mounting hardware in my scrap bin.
I cut the steel plates from some 1/32" sheet metal, then drilled holes in them to match the factory steel plates that come with the Kadee O-scale kit.
And a pic of the sheet aluminum. This was an aluminum "kick plate" for a door, got it at home depot. I scored it with a razor knife and snapped the pieces off, then drilled them and bent the 90 degree bend with the help of a vise and hammer.
A picture of the assembling in progress. I did have to buy longer screws to go all the way through the added plates.
Here's a photo of 15 completed e-mags, wired and ready to go. Well, I still need to cut the exposed threads of the screws off, just to make it easier to install the mags up through the hole in the foam.
Anyway, I had great luck with uncoupling using these on the old layout. And I'm glad I got all of these assembled up front, so once I start laying track, I won't have to stop and build magnets.
First, here is a photo of an almost finished magnet. Just needs the wiring connections.
I did alot of experimenting a couple years ago to make the Kadee system work flawlessly. With the regular HO single coil kit, the coupler/spring/draft box had to be adjusted and maintained meticuously to get 100% operation. That was tough to do. The nost common flaw was the couplers not moving far enough to the side to uncouple. So, I decided that a stronger magnet would be more likely to function correctly, even with less than perfect coupler adjustment.
So, what I did was use the Kadee O scale kit. This has 2 coils, so more magnetizing force. I wire the coils in series and operate them at 24 volts.
As you can see, I added some extra steel plates on the sides to more strongly focus the magnetic flux. I also added an aluminum plate to each side for mounting purposes. Since these mags will be installed up through 1/4" of plywood, 2" of foam, and the roadbed, the aluminum plates extend down with a 90 degree bend at the bottom so they can be screwed to the 1/4" plywood.
Here is a photo of all the parts. The stuff on the left is extra stuff I fabricated, stuff on the right is factory. I threw the ridiculous factory "thru-the-ties" plastic mounting hardware in my scrap bin.
I cut the steel plates from some 1/32" sheet metal, then drilled holes in them to match the factory steel plates that come with the Kadee O-scale kit.
And a pic of the sheet aluminum. This was an aluminum "kick plate" for a door, got it at home depot. I scored it with a razor knife and snapped the pieces off, then drilled them and bent the 90 degree bend with the help of a vise and hammer.
A picture of the assembling in progress. I did have to buy longer screws to go all the way through the added plates.
Here's a photo of 15 completed e-mags, wired and ready to go. Well, I still need to cut the exposed threads of the screws off, just to make it easier to install the mags up through the hole in the foam.
Anyway, I had great luck with uncoupling using these on the old layout. And I'm glad I got all of these assembled up front, so once I start laying track, I won't have to stop and build magnets.
Three Foot Rule In Effect At All Times