|
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
This circuit goes "in series" with one of the leads coming from the track to the motor.
For lighting, the common connection for the two lights is the junction at the right.
Each lamp/LED will be attached to the short 'terminals' left of center.
This will result in a lamp wired across two rectifiers, resulting in an approximate?1.5 volt drop.
Then you just determine?which lamp lights when running in what direction.
Ken G.
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
Labelled photo These appear to be 1 amp rectifiers (1N4001). SHOULD be okay for your engine. You might consider 3 amp if these one get really hot.
Ken G
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
I was working on an answer and this got pretty well answered before I could post.
Anyway, the voltage drop will be closer to 1.2 volts (approximately 0.6 volts per diode).? It is intended to be used with 1.5 volt incandescent bulbs.? The slightly lowered voltage has the benefit of substantially extending the bulb life.
This is not for use with LEDs.? They have about a 2.4 volt forward voltage drop so I would expect them to remain dark at all times.? ?Also, LEDs require current limiting (usually just a resistor) appropriate for whatever is a high enough voltage to get them to work.
Here is a schematic showing the network in series with the motor.? But it doesn't really add anything beyond the labeled photo already provided.
 Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 08:58:05 AM PST, ken garber via groups.io <garber.ken@...> wrote:
This circuit goes "in series" with one of the leads coming from the track to the motor.
For lighting, the common connection for the two lights is the junction at the right.
Each lamp/LED will be attached to the short 'terminals' left of center.
This will result in a lamp wired across two rectifiers, resulting in an approximate?1.5 volt drop.
Then you just determine?which lamp lights when running in what direction.
Ken G.
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
Theoretically speaking.... if you put four diodes in each branch...? albeit at a loss of loco speed.??
Ken g
I was working on an answer and this got pretty well answered before I could post.
Anyway, the voltage drop will be closer to 1.2 volts (approximately 0.6 volts per diode).? It is intended to be used with 1.5 volt incandescent bulbs.? The slightly lowered voltage has the benefit of substantially extending the bulb life.
This is not for use with LEDs.? They have about a 2.4 volt forward voltage drop so I would expect them to remain dark at all times.? ?Also, LEDs require current limiting (usually just a resistor) appropriate for whatever is a high enough voltage to get them to work.
Here is a schematic showing the network in series with the motor.? But it doesn't really add anything beyond the labeled photo already provided.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 08:58:05 AM PST, ken garber via <garber.ken= [email protected]> wrote:
This circuit goes "in series" with one of the leads coming from the track to the motor.
For lighting, the common connection for the two lights is the junction at the right.
Each lamp/LED will be attached to the short 'terminals' left of center.
This will result in a lamp wired across two rectifiers, resulting in an approximate?1.5 volt drop.
Then you just determine?which lamp lights when running in what direction.
Ken G.
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
Hi Jace, you didn¡¯t state whether you were running straight DC or if you were running DCC with a decoder. I¡¯m assuming ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð gonna be running straight DC and no decoder so on average 12 to 13 V on the rails at full throttle.
With that said LEDs only allow electricity to flow through them in one direction giving directional lighting.
I stock 1000 ohm 2000 ohm and 3000 ohm resistors for my LEDs to determine how bright I want them to be. You can wire the LED straight to your rails with one of those resistors. By determining when you throw the track direction which is the polarity on DC if the LED is going to light or not light. Wire the other opposite of the first. Your done. ?You don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output. Mike Swederska?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 10:49?AM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
<Diode lighting circuit.jpg>
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
I'm not sure I understand the question about the four diodes.? But you can put as many diodes in series as you want.? Each one adds about another 0.6 volts of voltage drop.? Each series diode increase the voltage needed to start the motor, and the maximum voltage available to the motor (and therefore speed).? Of course, everything here is, I assume, for a DC operated locomotive.? No DCC.
More diodes DOES make it easier to apply a small voltage to get a light to turn on but not make the motor run.? So, you can have a light on when stopped.? This works well with permanent magnet motors.? With lower current can motors which move more easily, it may be difficult to get a lamp bulb to light without also having the motor run.
There is some interesting history behind these schemes.? One early scheme (perhaps the first published) was in the December 1962 issue of model railroader.? ("Simple Way to Keep Headlights Burning" by G. R> Stilwell).? It used a seven diode scheme.? I was 15 years old at the time and didn't see the need for seven and did the same six diode scheme you have.? Which I believe became much more common.? However, the article was very focused on pricing (diodes not being as dirt cheap as they are today) and with the seven diode scheme two could be low current and much less costly.? This may have been the reason.
What's going on here is that with either polarity, 3 of the diodes of the 5 in the center are forward biased giving three voltage drops.? D1 and D2 have the purpose of cancelling out a voltage drop leaving a 2 diode drop and adding the directionality.
But somebody came along with a nice little twist to this circuit that makes the headlight dim in reverse, not off.? This is more prototypical.
From the May 1987 Model Railroader magazine "Symposium on Electronics" column.
It is the arrangement of the diodes that causes the headlight to dim in reverse.? The resistor limits the current to both bulbs for the purpose of giving them a better "hue" according to the text.? And, yes, it can make your eyes bleed a bit to trace currents through this little circuit if you aren't used to reading such things.? And sometimes even if you are.? (I know it is drawn better in another issue, but I couldn't find it.)
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10:44:04 AM PST, ken garber via groups.io <garber.ken@...> wrote:
Theoretically speaking.... if you put four diodes in each branch...? albeit at a loss of loco speed.??
Ken g
I was working on an answer and this got pretty well answered before I could post.
Anyway, the voltage drop will be closer to 1.2 volts (approximately 0.6 volts per diode).? It is intended to be used with 1.5 volt incandescent bulbs.? The slightly lowered voltage has the benefit of substantially extending the bulb life.
This is not for use with LEDs.? They have about a 2.4 volt forward voltage drop so I would expect them to remain dark at all times.? ?Also, LEDs require current limiting (usually just a resistor) appropriate for whatever is a high enough voltage to get them to work.
Here is a schematic showing the network in series with the motor.? But it doesn't really add anything beyond the labeled photo already provided.
![Inline image]( "Inline image") Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 08:58:05 AM PST, ken garber via <garber.ken= [email protected]> wrote:
This circuit goes "in series" with one of the leads coming from the track to the motor.
For lighting, the common connection for the two lights is the junction at the right.
Each lamp/LED will be attached to the short 'terminals' left of center.
This will result in a lamp wired across two rectifiers, resulting in an approximate?1.5 volt drop.
Then you just determine?which lamp lights when running in what direction.
Ken G.
I'm sure I've asked this before--and kind souls have answered it¡ªbut I am finally ready to put my Alco RSD-4/5 back together and (electronic ignoramus that I am) I don't know where to connect the leads from the motor nor the leads from the headlights and can't
find the answers previously provided.
I assume this is a constant lighting circuit, likely also with directional lighting.
My expertise usually extends only to using pre-wired LED's.
|
Why is the lighting circuit wired in series in the motor circuit and not a parallel lighting circuit?
Ben Trousdale
|
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
|
To get a bit technical, the motor is acting as ballast (electrical ballast) for the diode circuit. This prevents excessive current through the diodes.
If you connected the diode circuit directly across power from the rails, they will be destroyed - and very quickly with a lot of heat and maybe even a small "explosion."
The diodes are acting as a low budget voltage regulator.? At a very low current, each diode (that is forward biased) will drop around 0.6 volts.? As current increases, that voltage remains almost the same.? But there MUST be something for any voltage above that point to be dropped across.? That is the motor.
Remember, the goal is for constant lighting with any track voltage.? With the motor as "ballast", from the point of view of the diode circuit, excess voltage is dropped across the motor, not the diode circuit.? Of course, this "excess voltage" is what will make the motor turn which is a big plus for a model railroad engine.? But the diode circuit doesn't know that.? You could replace the motor with a resistor and the diode circuit would be just as happy.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 01:31:35 PM PST, Ben via groups.io <pickycat95@...> wrote:
Why is the lighting circuit wired in series in the motor circuit and not a parallel lighting circuit?
Ben Trousdale
|
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
|
Wow! If you guys read my email and ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð telling me that they¡¯re gonna blow up if you go across the rails.I can¡¯t believe it. With a 1000-3000 ohm resistor on the lead of the LED directly to the rail is no different than going across DCC rails at 14 V. And as far as constant lighting is concerned, the LED will come on in less than one volt on the rails when you turn on the throttle giving you constant lighting before the locomotive even begins to move on DC. The resistor is what regulates how much DC electric getsto the LED once the throttle is turned up past one volt. The LED itself is what creates the directional lighting. He is not using light bulbs and the circuit that you guys are showing as old school for lightbulbs. He¡¯s using LEDs. Why do you need the motor to be a ballast? I don¡¯t understand.
If I¡¯m correct, am Ithinking, even with the DCC decoder, the function wires white, and the blue do not have anything to do with the motor. Whatever voltage is on the rails going to the decoder goes right through the decoder and to the LED. That is why you use resistors whether you use a lightbulb or LED in DCC. Mike Swederska?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 4:55?PM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
 ?Here¡¯s my track test light. It¡¯s nothing more than a 1000 ohm resistor soldered to the lead on the LED. Works perfect on DCCRDC and I¡¯m running 14 1/2 V on my track hasn¡¯t blown up yet works just fine. Mike Swederska?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 6:01?PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io <MikeSscale@...> wrote:
? Wow! If you guys read my email and ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð telling me that they¡¯re gonna blow up if you go across the rails.I can¡¯t believe it. With a 1000-3000 ohm resistor on the lead of the LED directly to the rail is no different than going across DCC rails at 14 V. And as far as constant lighting is concerned, the LED will come on in less than one volt on the rails when you turn on the throttle giving you constant lighting before the locomotive even begins to move on DC. The resistor is what regulates how much DC electric getsto the LED once the throttle is turned up past one volt. The LED itself is what creates the directional lighting. He is not using light bulbs and the circuit that you guys are showing as old school for lightbulbs. He¡¯s using LEDs. Why do you need the motor to be a ballast? I don¡¯t understand.
If I¡¯m correct, am Ithinking, even with the DCC decoder, the function wires white, and the blue do not have anything to do with the motor. Whatever voltage is on the rails going to the decoder goes right through the decoder and to the LED. That is why you use resistors whether you use a lightbulb or LED in DCC. Mike Swederska? On Dec 19, 2024, at 4:55?PM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
-- Mike Swederska Meramec Valley Lines Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16 Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
The original post showed a network that is clearly one of the diode networks used for "constant lighting" when using incandescent bulbs.? Furthermore, it affords reversible constant lighting - of incandescent bulbs.? All of my comments are in that context.
If you want answers about LED's, ask a question about LED's
But the diode circuit shown WILL destruct if put directly across the rail power unless not much current is available from the power source.? It is a question of how much power each diode has to dissipate as heat.
In the diode circuit shown, the addition of the motor in series does act as ballast.? Just like a resistor in series does the same for an LED.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 04:01:44 PM PST, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:
Wow! If you guys read my email and ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð telling me that they¡¯re gonna blow up if you go across the rails.I can¡¯t believe it. With a 1000-3000 ohm resistor on the lead of the LED directly to the rail is no different than going across DCC rails at 14 V. And as far as constant lighting is concerned, the LED will come on in less than one volt on the rails when you turn on the throttle giving you constant lighting before the locomotive even begins to move on DC. The resistor is what regulates how much DC electric getsto the LED once the throttle is turned up past one volt. The LED itself is what creates the directional lighting. He is not using light bulbs and the circuit that you guys are showing as old school for lightbulbs. He¡¯s using LEDs. Why do you need the motor to be a ballast? I don¡¯t understand.
If I¡¯m correct, am Ithinking, even with the DCC decoder, the function wires white, and the blue do not have anything to do with the motor. Whatever voltage is on the rails going to the decoder goes right through the decoder and to the LED. That is why you use resistors whether you use a lightbulb or LED in DCC. Mike Swederska? On Dec 19, 2024, at 4:55?PM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Read Jace¡®s original post question he is asking about LEDs the circuit that was posted with somebody¡¯s answer to Jace¡®s question. That is why I keep insisting that we are talking about LEDs, not lightbulbs. Mike Swederska?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 6:14?PM, Charles Kinzer via groups.io <ckinzer@...> wrote:
?
The original post showed a network that is clearly one of the diode networks used for "constant lighting" when using incandescent bulbs.? Furthermore, it affords reversible constant lighting - of incandescent bulbs.? All of my comments are in that context.
If you want answers about LED's, ask a question about LED's
But the diode circuit shown WILL destruct if put directly across the rail power unless not much current is available from the power source.? It is a question of how much power each diode has to dissipate as heat.
In the diode circuit shown, the addition of the motor in series does act as ballast.? Just like a resistor in series does the same for an LED.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 04:01:44 PM PST, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:
Wow! If you guys read my email and ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð telling me that they¡¯re gonna blow up if you go across the rails.I can¡¯t believe it. With a 1000-3000 ohm resistor on the lead of the LED directly to the rail is no different than going across DCC rails at 14 V. And as far as constant lighting is concerned, the LED will come on in less than one volt on the rails when you turn on the throttle giving you constant lighting before the locomotive even begins to move on DC. The resistor is what regulates how much DC electric getsto the LED once the throttle is turned up past one volt. The LED itself is what creates the directional lighting. He is not using light bulbs and the circuit that you guys are showing as old school for lightbulbs. He¡¯s using LEDs. Why do you need the motor to be a ballast? I don¡¯t understand.
If I¡¯m correct, am Ithinking, even with the DCC decoder, the function wires white, and the blue do not have anything to do with the motor. Whatever voltage is on the rails going to the decoder goes right through the decoder and to the LED. That is why you use resistors whether you use a lightbulb or LED in DCC. Mike Swederska? On Dec 19, 2024, at 4:55?PM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Incidentally, if anyone want to read some info in depth about measuring DCC voltage, I have this document I wrote at my Droipbox site.? I wrote this mainly for the Digitrax groups but it has been passed around a lot.
It has everything from test lights (which is usually all you need) to meters that will work and why some won't, oscilloscopes, and so on.? There are many appendices for those who want a deeper dive (there is a lot there).? One appendix shows how a "sensitive ohmmeter" can be used to help find shorts.? At a large HO railroad I work on at a museum, this has been invaluable.
The one sort of test light that I do NOT show is an LED with a resistor.? It is advantageous to have more of a load on the DCC voltage than an LED provides.? Some who use an LED light tester also clip a lower resistance across the rails to cause more current to flow.? The reason for this is that there can be a questionable connection somewhere that might be read fine with the low current draw of the LED test light, but not with more current such as when you try to run an engine, and it still doesn't work.? All of the test lights in the document draw significant current to simulate a load.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 04:14:48 PM PST, Charles Kinzer <ckinzer@...> wrote:
The original post showed a network that is clearly one of the diode networks used for "constant lighting" when using incandescent bulbs.? Furthermore, it affords reversible constant lighting - of incandescent bulbs.? All of my comments are in that context.
If you want answers about LED's, ask a question about LED's
But the diode circuit shown WILL destruct if put directly across the rail power unless not much current is available from the power source.? It is a question of how much power each diode has to dissipate as heat.
In the diode circuit shown, the addition of the motor in series does act as ballast.? Just like a resistor in series does the same for an LED.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 04:01:44 PM PST, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:
Wow! If you guys read my email and ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð telling me that they¡¯re gonna blow up if you go across the rails.I can¡¯t believe it. With a 1000-3000 ohm resistor on the lead of the LED directly to the rail is no different than going across DCC rails at 14 V. And as far as constant lighting is concerned, the LED will come on in less than one volt on the rails when you turn on the throttle giving you constant lighting before the locomotive even begins to move on DC. The resistor is what regulates how much DC electric getsto the LED once the throttle is turned up past one volt. The LED itself is what creates the directional lighting. He is not using light bulbs and the circuit that you guys are showing as old school for lightbulbs. He¡¯s using LEDs. Why do you need the motor to be a ballast? I don¡¯t understand.
If I¡¯m correct, am Ithinking, even with the DCC decoder, the function wires white, and the blue do not have anything to do with the motor. Whatever voltage is on the rails going to the decoder goes right through the decoder and to the LED. That is why you use resistors whether you use a lightbulb or LED in DCC. Mike Swederska? On Dec 19, 2024, at 4:55?PM, JGG KahnSr via groups.io <jacekahn@...> wrote:
?
I figured it was a constant lighting circuit, perhaps directional, too, and that the bulbs mounted in the shell are probably low-voltage which would blow if they got any significant part of 12v.
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:43 AM, Mike Swederska wrote:
don¡¯t hook it to your motor in my opinion that¡¯s incorrect because it does affect the Motors RPM ?output.
Mike Swederska?
I am taking an uneducated guess here, but it looks to me like the circuit enables the lights to illuminate
BEFORE the motor starts to rotate.? Thus, the lights could be on while the train is waiting at the station.? Or something like that.? Just a guesstimate, but what the heck..........it might be correct.? Ed L.
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer,I¡¯m done, you win. I didn¡¯t know I was dealing with someone like you. Now ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð?saying my test light is wrong! I¡¯m guess you did what I asked and read his original post and found it was about LEDs and not light bulbs. So now you are attacking my test light and bragging about something else off his subject. DCC voltage?
I just want to be clear. I would not give advice to anyone if I wasn¡¯t sure it was correct. I definitely don¡¯t like someone implying I would and did.?
So don¡¯t bother replying to this post. I¡¯m muting it on my end.?
I will now post the latest progress on the Mutt next. And then step away from this group turning it off for now.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 19, 2024, at 6:25?PM, Charles Kinzer via groups.io <ckinzer@...> wrote:
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
No.? His question was about the diode network.? He provided a photo making it even more obvious.? He made a mention of LEDs, but they aren't applicable to the network.? I pointed out in one of my comments that LEDs did NOT apply.
Your test light is not "wrong."? It just has a limitation.? If you have a high resistance connection as the cause of insufficient current to your locomotives, the LED light tester may not catch it.? This is not my opinion.? This is how electricity works.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 04:42:19 PM PST, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer,I¡¯m done, you win. I didn¡¯t know I was dealing with someone like you. Now ²â´Ç³Ü¡¯°ù±ð?saying my test light is wrong! I¡¯m guess you did what I asked and read his original post and found it was about LEDs and not light bulbs. So now you are attacking my test light and bragging about something else off his subject. DCC voltage?
I just want to be clear. I would not give advice to anyone if I wasn¡¯t sure it was correct. I definitely don¡¯t like someone implying I would and did.?
So don¡¯t bother replying to this post. I¡¯m muting it on my end.?
I will now post the latest progress on the Mutt next. And then step away from this group turning it off for now.
On Dec 19, 2024, at 6:25?PM, Charles Kinzer via groups.io <ckinzer@...> wrote:
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
ken garber
Ben