Search found 564 matches
- Sun May 06, 2018 2:36 am
- Forum: Garden Railway Technical Help & Advice
- Topic: Turnout control by servo - my experiences
- Replies: 25
- Views: 10391
Turnout control by servo - my experiences
I've noticed on a US forum, discussions on using servos to operate turnouts. I thought I post my experiences of using them outside for 15 years. I started directly connecting the servo arm to the turnout tie-bar, but soon realised that I couldn't operate the turnout locally, as the servo 'locked' it...
- Sun May 06, 2018 12:34 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
I started this project hoping to be able to program the engine to run a sequence of movements, like driving down a street. But soon realised that complicated moves like driving a round corners would not work due to minor variables like leaves pushing it slightly off course. Anyway I persevered, 'jus...
- Thu May 03, 2018 8:38 am
- Forum: Locomotives - Electric
- Topic: HGLW - Loco build and rc installation
- Replies: 23
- Views: 11928
Re: HGLW - Loco build and rc installation
......... and had a few more details added - couplings (yes, I know LGB couplings look $#!t , but they make shunting a lot easier - Rik Just a suggestion for future. Instead of using LGB hooks on a small loco, I just arranged the 'cowcatcher' (or whatever that front plate is called) to be the right...
- Tue May 01, 2018 12:59 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
I agree, if it ain't broke don't fix it but having myslef had all sorts of odd issues with budget servos in the past I reckon it's that. Just to try and convince myself, I took a similar 'cheap blue' servo and had a look at it's waveforms. Fed from my bench supply, it caused a 250mV dip in the supp...
- Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:10 pm
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Surely there is a faulty component causing this? Always a possibility, but since I have got rid of the problem (fingers crossed) with the mods I made, it seems less likely to be a component. What component could it be? I've tried different picaxe. I've checked that other Rx of the same type cause t...
- Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:55 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
I had a similar problem recently, the DFPlayer sound card I was playing with interfered with another 5 volt circuit (not the processor). I solved it as you with a schottky diode and capacitor. I also changed the layout to ensure the 0v and 5v lines of the offending device went directly to the regul...
- Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:54 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
As soon as I started testing I noticed an intermittent control problem. I'm using a picaxe to control the motor speed, direction and steering. But there is some interference which causes the picaxe to stop and restart its program. I am sure this is what is happening as if it’s in reverse at the time...
- Sat Apr 28, 2018 1:14 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
I use Peter Spoerer for laptop speakers. You need to be careful with buying small speakers on eBay due to quality and if it comes with a well made back box for reverb: http://www.peterspoerermodelengineers.com/90275/info.php?p=4 Well I've ordered some cheapies, so I'll report how they perform when ...
- Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:00 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
You could try and pick up a laptop speaker - generally compact, but of better quality than the mylar 'tranny' types. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/231573236571?chn=ps&adgroupid=50138193029&rlsatarget=pla-398785771140&abcId=1130076&adtype=pla&merchantid=9679984&poi=&googleloc=...
- Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:58 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Can you not fit a speaker in the roof of the cab? I have recorded that sound on the video onto a 20 sec sound recorder card. I only have a 25mm mylar speaker to test it, and it was just hopeless. I could fit two, 40mm mylar into the roof but I have used them before in a little diesel and the volume...
- Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:45 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Loved the video Greg, it was a bit steep that hill…. :) Think the wheels need a pivot of some kind to keep them both on the ground on uneven surfaces don’t you think. In the full scale ones they have them don’t they.. :thumbright: It was working fine before I added the chains. I've loosened off the...
- Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:19 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
I have now finished the painting and added a few details,- many more could be added, but I doubt I’ll bother. I added some weight up front and glued rubber bands around the front wheels to get steering grip. And used chains for the steering. I need to loosen off the steering to keep the wheels on th...
- Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:05 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: A Home Wi-Fi Connected Garden Railway
- Replies: 37
- Views: 22020
Re: A Home Wi-Fi Connected Garden Railway
I am just flabbergasted at your skills. It's always great to read about a project that is 'pushing the boundaries', even if way beyond my skills or needs. Just to add a little about using servos etc outside. I use Picaxe outside, usually in a small clip lock food container, which is then inside a bu...
- Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:57 am
- Forum: General Garden Railways
- Topic: 16mm and its relationship with other scales
- Replies: 89
- Views: 42685
Re: 16mm and its relationship with other scales
I agree absolutely.Peter Butler wrote: ↑Tue Apr 24, 2018 11:43 pm NO...NO...NO... never! We need sensible communication and response to posts, not the simplicity to say 'like'..... that is the end of conversation!
- Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:55 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
The system uses a small neodymium magnet on a steering arm under a battery powered vehicle to follow a steel wire laid just under the road surface. In garden scale the old Australian standby of fencing wire would probably work as the guide wire, if it was embedded in a cement road surface. The Fall...
- Sun Apr 22, 2018 6:38 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Assuming that a strip could be magnetised strongly enough, then two reed switches mounted just inside the front wheels could detect when they approached and/or moved away from the strip and trigger an appropriate twitch to the steering. How easy that would be in practice and how effective, is anoth...
- Sun Apr 22, 2018 6:33 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Sunday update. I managed to bash a bit of lead into a cylindrical shape which gave me 20g in the chimney. Then 25g under the electronics board and a circular piece of 25g glued on the inside of the smoke box door. A great improvement, even without the rubber band tyres. I also rewrote the picaxe pro...
- Sun Apr 22, 2018 12:32 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Great build Greg. Going to throw this one out there but to make your automation easier can you not place a magnetic strip or some rails for the traction engine to use so you don't have to worry about steering? You only then need to code speed, forward and reverse. A good suggestion. No idea how to ...
- Sun Apr 22, 2018 12:26 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Lead is easy enough to cast, all you need to melt it is an old soup ladle and a blowtorch, or a gas ring. I don't know if it is still easily available, but Woods Metal (Cerrobend) has a melting point of 70degC and is useful for weighting models, as it is safer to handle and can be cast into a plast...
- Sat Apr 21, 2018 10:56 am
- Forum: Projects
- Topic: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
- Replies: 62
- Views: 26168
Re: Building a radio controlled (electric) traction engine
Great video, but I don’t think putting lead around the gearbox would help much, but the lead in the smoke box would and it’s easy to fold to shape in the smoke box. :thumbright: But the smoke box has the electronics in it. I can perhaps fit a little lead, but not very much. It's going to be little ...