For your evaluation

Discuss All Facets of 2-Rail, 1/48 Scale, Model Railroading
Tom Dempsey
Posts: 1002
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:15 pm

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Tom Dempsey » Mon May 15, 2017 1:23 pm

Roy wrote:
Tom Dempsey wrote:Every Power Pack I have seems to be a pulsed unit (most are MRC or starter set packs) and they are "messing" with the board I am currently trying to install in a locomotive. What I want is up to 6 amps of straight DC, no ripple, no pulse, a straight line on an oscilloscope at 12 volts. Your evaluation would be gratefully accepted, brutality is allowed/encouraged (if necessary). Thanks, as always, Tom Dempsey

Another approach is to fix the onboard electronics so that they'll work with standard power supplies. What is this board you're using?


BlueRail Trains, eventually it will theoretically lead to onboard battery power, but I like to do my learning in bite sized steps when possible so I'm starting with a more standard install. It ultimately should make more sense to just jump all the way to onboard battery power for me personally, however, I also have to look at the store situation. Not everyone is comfortable with battery power.

Seaboard Air Line Fan
Posts: 1308
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Seaboard Air Line Fan » Mon May 15, 2017 2:10 pm

I've got 3 engines with the BlueRail board inside, A Williams E7, Weaver RS3, and Bachmann G-scale 4-6-0.

I added a bluetooth sound board to the E7 so now the sounds come out of the engine vice out of my Ipad. It's not the finest sound available but it does give me diesel rumble, horn, and bell. I even have a bluetooth gamepad so I can control the engine without having to hold the Ipad. Hopefully they'll offer a board with 3-6amp capacity soon, the 2amp just doesn't have what it takes, although I played around with the adjustments in the software and got the engines to run without tripping the polyfuse.
BobD aka Drifty

The Crow Flies At Midnight

Seaboard Air Line Fan
Posts: 1308
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Seaboard Air Line Fan » Thu May 18, 2017 9:38 am

Tom, Being nobody really answered your query i thought I'd do some digging...found this site:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Throttles.html
BobD aka Drifty

The Crow Flies At Midnight

Tom Dempsey
Posts: 1002
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:15 pm

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Tom Dempsey » Thu May 18, 2017 10:16 am

Thanks Bob, Dan (RDSRR) offered me a better alternative during a phone call and once the parts arrive, and I get back from OSW, I'm going to follow it and see how things work out. I will post the end result. And to all of you I do appreciate all the input. As always, Tom Dempsey (stop by and throw me shade in Santa Clara if you feel the need)

Seaboard Air Line Fan
Posts: 1308
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Seaboard Air Line Fan » Thu May 18, 2017 10:31 am

I built a transistor throttle years ago for HO. Still have it but can't find the schematic of it anymore and don't recall how it connected to the P.S. It worked well though, has the transistor on the outside of the metal case (to help in cooling) and used 4-wire telephone connectors/cable.

I also have an old Aristocraft Train Engineer:

train engineer.jpg
train engineer.jpg (81.29 KiB) Viewed 3803 times


that I have used on both HO and G scale trains. I think the base is good for 10amps. It should work fine on O scale as well. Both systems needed a transformer, I think I used a 12v wall wart last time I hooked it up.
BobD aka Drifty

The Crow Flies At Midnight

Tom Dempsey
Posts: 1002
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:15 pm

Re: For your evaluation

Postby Tom Dempsey » Thu May 18, 2017 5:12 pm

That's sorta what Dan and I cooked up, time will tell. Thanks, Tom Dempsey


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