LGB Point Motors

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:00 am

For some reason this idea never entered my head before but is it possible to use LGB point motors on Peco SM32 track?
I have tried servos and they do work. However, I am concerned they are not up to the outdoor conditions the winter will throw at them.
Has anyone tried this before?
Also, where can I get them at the best price?

LnBmad · Post by **LnBmad** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 7:52 am

What sort of servos are you using? How are they encased? The lgb point motors work pretty much the same. The servos used at bsme have stood up to the weather fine.

rebelego · Post by **rebelego** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:31 pm

Is it possible to operate the LGB point motor with 9 V DC?

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:51 pm

Sorry for the delay, I rather let this subject slide......
LnBmad...The servos are nothing more than ones taken from RC cars which my sons and I used to run. They do work and have been protected temporarily under plastic cartons until I have time to make individual covers to disguise them.
I have had offers of LGB motors (new and used) but see little point in changing them if the servos, which are considerably cheaper, do the job.
I can't help with the power requirement question..... I think I know more about DIY brain surgery than electronics!

GardenSteamer · Post by **GardenSteamer** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 10:57 pm

RC servos work by sending a pulse on the signal line that varies in length between a nominal 1mS and 2mS. This is repeated 50 times a second. Once the servo has rotated to the position equivalent to the length of pulse then it will draw very little current.

For point use a continuous variation of the signal isn't needed, only the two pulse lengths for the two positions.

As the travel of the point blades is relatively small a large amount of leverage can be used by the servo so there are unlikely to be any problems with not having enough torque.

The biggest problem will be keeping the water out of the servo mechanism.

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 11:01 pm

I have never had a LGB pointmotor to strip to see how water is kept away from the vulnerable parts. Any ideas how this is achieved?

Enginehouse · Post by **Enginehouse** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:03 am

Peter Butler:90830 wrote:I have never had a LGB pointmotor to strip to see how water is kept away from the vulnerable parts. Any ideas how this is achieved?

In my case by liberal coating of internals and surfaces with HTMP white silicone grease. Five years running and no problems at all. All of my big antennas (radio amateur) are also well smeared with the same substance with no bolt lock up or rotator problems and no water ingress into cable problems at all. Once down at the Cheddar Models factory open weekend, we operated a servo immersed completely in a bucket of water as a demonstration to prove a point and operated it continually under water until We became bored. We used to build large model boats where water ingress is extremely important.

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:26 am

Enginehouse:90835 wrote:We used to build large model boats where water ingress is extremely important.

I would have thought that PREVENTING water ingress was MUCH more important.............................

Enginehouse · Post by **Enginehouse** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:40 pm

It's not really possible to prevent water ingress when running steam engines in open "lakes" style launches. Especially when using engines like the Cheddar Puffin twin oscillators, which although a very popular method of propulsion, were by no means dry running machines. Waterproofing sail winches was another fun occupation as although electrics were usually located below the deck, "real" miniature sailboats have the habit of shipping large amounts of water at times. Electric failure in boats is often a lot more complicated than just rectification of the problem. First the boat has to be recovered (hopefully from the surface of the water). Knowing members of the local sub aqua club can be very handy sometimes.

LnBmad · Post by **LnBmad** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:24 pm

Micro metal geared servo filled with white grease was what I used to run in my all weather rc car. Never broke that servo and never had any issues with water. My dry servos I used to destroy mind....

If you can create a plastic housing that should help a lot (we did this at bsme)

rebelego · Post by **rebelego** » Fri May 23, 2014 9:18 am

rebelego:90796 wrote:Is it possible to operate the LGB point motor with 9 V DC?

To answer my own question...
The answer is yes.
It works very well with a regular 9V battery.

laalratty · Post by **laalratty** » Fri May 23, 2014 8:34 pm

rebelego:100868 wrote:
rebelego:90796 wrote:Is it possible to operate the LGB point motor with 9 V DC?
To answer my own question...
The answer is yes.
It works very well with a regular 9V battery.

I take it you just put the wires from the motor on the 9V battery to make it go one way, and then switched them round to make it go the other way? I'd like to know as a friend has a LGB motored point which he would like to sell, and he wants a quick and easy way to test it before selling it.

rebelego · Post by **rebelego** » Sun May 25, 2014 8:41 am

laalratty:100896 wrote:I take it you just put the wires from the motor on the 9V battery to make it go one way, and then switched them round to make it go the other way? I'd like to know as a friend has a LGB motored point which he would like to sell, and he wants a quick and easy way to test it before selling it.

Yes, an easy way to test the motor.

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