Simon_S wrote:
Heljan motors seem to be very inefficient, I've measured my 47 drawing 1.5A.
Ugh. Much sparking too?
You must have to clean your track very often!
Simon_S wrote:
Heljan motors seem to be very inefficient, I've measured my 47 drawing 1.5A.
Paul Townsend wrote:Ugh. Much sparking too?
You must have to clean your track very often!
Noel wrote:I am not familiar with Heljan locos, but just out of curiosity, have you checked the drive train for problems, and that one or more pickups are not in the wrong place(s)?
Simon_S wrote:Will L wrote:In the good old days of open frame motors some of them could draw up to an amp, but modern motors are much, much less thirsty. You'll get nowhere need 5 amps.
Heljan motors seem to be very inefficient, I've measured my 47 drawing 1.5A.
ClikC wrote:Knuckles wrote:The main reason DCC appeals to me beeides less wiring
That right there, is the number one lie of DCC.
If you talking an 'OO' set track 6x4, then yes. For any other type of layout, DCC will likely have the same as, or more wiring than an equivalent DC layout.
ClikC wrote: If I was tackling something like BNS, I'd probably opt to make each layout board have its own microcontroller to cover point and signal control, with just an Ethernet cable from each back to a hub and then over Ethernet to a microcontroller based control panel. Although an AS-Interface style system also appeals.
Matt
ClikC wrote:Fair enough Jim. Although I think the square cube rule law starts to come into play with layouts as big as yours.
I'm allergic to DCC for point control, which I blame squarely on owning one too many 'digital' synthesizer's. Knobs > Menus. If I was tackling something like BNS, I'd probably opt to make each layout board have its own microcontroller to cover point and signal control, with just an Ethernet cable from each back to a hub and then over Ethernet to a microcontroller based control panel. Although an AS-Interface style system also appeals.
Paul Townsend wrote:Shameless plug here for Merg CBus which uses Canbus like your car for this job and can interface via Ethernet to PC or RaspberryPi etc
nigelcliffe wrote:Like I have installed on Coldfair Green, which is a small branchline layout.
LocoNet based, a technology with a 15-20 year history. Local microprocessor units for turnouts, signals and level crossing movement. Local control buttons where required. Networked together to a push-button panel which has LED indication of state of track and signals. And links to optional computer screen(s), smartphones. And, should someone want to do it, the DCC handset will also operate everything.
Its considerably less wiring than a "conventional" panel with similar capabilities.
MERG's CBus system will do similar things. As will some other methods.
- Nigel
Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 5 guests