Track and electrical/DCC
Mann Made Switch machine instructions
Hi Looking for the instructions for Mann Made switch machines. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks Geoff
Connectivity and sporadic train operation
I have a small N scale double loop coffee table layout. I'm running Kato locos on Kato unitrack under glass. Sometimes the trains will run spordically around the loop. The headlight blinks on and off as the loco tries to get through the dead spots. The trains seem to get caught up on the same spots everytime. I've cleaned the tracks and the wheels on the locos. After I clean the track, they run fine for some time, then start running sporadically again. With the entire layout under glass, its hard to believe the tracks can get dirty enough to disrupt their operation.
Electrically Conductive Paint?
The Digitrax Big Book of DCC talks about using electrically conductive paint on the axle of wheel sets to connect the two wheels and eliminate the need for resister wheels for a block detection system. Does anyone have any experience with using this? It seems like it would be a cheaper option then buying resister wheel sets and putting one in each truck on all of my cars.
Pi SPROG One, ESU LokSound, and New to DCC Issues
Hi everyone,
I am a DCC newby and finally figured how to wire up my Proto 2000 SD-9 to my ESU Loksound Select Decoder. After making some programming adjustments and running the locomotive through it's functions for an hour, I ran over a misaligned turnout which appears to have scrambled my decoder. Now it continues to make some noises when track power is on but the throttle and functions are not functioning. I am trying to do a reset of the CV's using CV8 = 8 for ESU, but I cannot write the reset to the decoder in progrmming on the main mode or program mode.
Red, Yellow, Green LEDs
A few months ago there was information about a single LED with Red, Yellow and Green chips in one unit that could be used for Model railroad signals. LEDBaron ( in Germany) and Mouser no longer list them on their web sites. Does anyone know of a source? They were available both with and without leads already attached
Bill
LokSound Decoder Differences?
Hello,
I'm deciding on a decoder for my first install, and a bit uncertain on differences between my choices.
It will be for an old P2k SD9 (circa late 90's) which was not DCC. Only a circuit board I believe for lighting which I removed.
I'm leaning toward LokSound Direct Select, but before I pull the trigger I'd like to know if there is a difference between the decoder on the Direct Select and the Select 8 pin in terms of:
Smallest radii possible?
Looking for feedback on an industrial/marine/rail minimum track radius. I need to get track into the warehouses and out onto my docks in a short span if possible.
Obviously I will be using small switch engines, and nothing longer than 50' cars.
What have you used or seen used successfully?
Thanks in advance,
Rob
A Longer LED Chaser
There was a discussion recently about creating a "longer LED chaser"
see: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh2016-12-dec/arduino?page=2
I just finished up a project that will be added to the animations at Children's Hospital's G-scale layout that has 160 LEDs chasing each other's tails and I thought that some of you might be interested in how it was done.
Digitrax AR1
Using NCE DCC system is it OK to use the AR1 in the layout? I note that NCE do not make one and recommend PSX-AR. I have an AR1. Thanks Tom
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