What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[G3750]

A huge project, for sure.

BTW, just looked through the latest OST. I look forward to Part 5 of "Pour Me A River", when the river will, at last, be poured A process I’ve mucked up every time I’ve tried it, looking forward to seeing how it’s done properly.

Yes, finally! I think there's also a follow-on involving the bridge.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

A huge project, for sure.

BTW, just looked through the latest OST. I look forward to Part 5 of "Pour Me A River", when the river will, at last, be poured A process I’ve mucked up every time I’ve tried it, looking forward to seeing how it’s done properly.

Yes, finally! I think there's also a follow-on involving the bridge.

There's a bridge

[G3750]

A huge project, for sure.

BTW, just looked through the latest OST. I look forward to Part 5 of "Pour Me A River", when the river will, at last, be poured A process I’ve mucked up every time I’ve tried it, looking forward to seeing how it’s done properly.

Yes, finally! I think there's also a follow-on involving the bridge.

There's a bridge

Yeah a culvert or a pedestrian walk over.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yes, finally! I think there's also a follow-on involving the bridge.

There's a bridge

Yeah a culvert or a pedestrian walk over.

Here I was thinking a zip line........

[G3750]

Updated 4/2/2022:

Haven't updated you in a while. We have been making some progress:

• The Open Hearth build is still underway, but the delay in obtaining all the Plastruct components I need is starting to have a large impact. All roof trusses are done, but columns (in particular) are waiting on parts.
• The wooden base of the mill has been cut as well as board which will hold the electrical components. Both have been screwed together.
• Design of the transfer ladles is complete. We had a trial version 3D printed and adjusted the size upward a bit.
• I have spent the last 2 weeks or so figuring out how the Open Hearth's software will operate the mill. I have written a design document as well as started to layout the pin assignments. It's looking more and more likely that the Arduino UNO will not have enough I/O pins. I will probably have to go to the Arduino MEGA.
• I have also been learning the C programming language and working with the Arduino sample code and components.
• A great deal of time has been spent researching and ordering the Arduino and associated electrical components (12VDC relays, jumpers, buttons, potentiometers, etc.)

George

[G3750]

Updated 4/21/2022:

• My Plastruct order arrived last week and I picked it up. It's been sorted and labeled for the parts of the mill.
• After reviewing the number of pins needed, I decided to use the Arduino MEGA 2560 processor board (70 I/O pins). That was ordered, arrived, and was tested out.
• Writing of the C code for the Open Hearth simulation is proceeding well.
• Additional components - MP3 player, speakers, jumpers, connectors, 5VDC power supply, crimping tool - are all starting to arrive.

George

[G3750]

Updated 4/26/2022:

On Saturday, I attended my division's Model Train Jamboree. It was an awesome event. I learned a great deal from both the clinics and talking to 2 electricians. In fact, so much that I am changing directions on the wiring of the Panhandle. Originally, I was pursuing the use of IDC (insulation displacement connectors) or "suitcase" connectors for bus / track feeder connections. From what I've learned, this is not a good solution. I am going to a more expensive, but reliable terminal block approach.

I've also learned about something called "No-Ox" which should eliminate track cleaning and improve track electrical conductivity. I am going to give that a try as well.

More when I know it.

George

[healey36]

I’ve used No-Ox in the garage frequently. It works well where corrosion and dampness are issues. It works great on keeping things like battery terminals and other electrical connectors free of corrosion and with good contact. I’ve also used it on nuts/bolts prone to corrosion, having good luck keeping them free of rust once I’ve cleaned them up. The stuff is like a paste/gel, so I apply it liberally. Other than mitigating corrosion, I’m not sure it’s that effective in improving conductivity.

Sarge gave me a little bottle of Rail-Zip a few years ago and I’ve used that on tubular track and some tarnished posts/connectors. It seems to work well; it definitely reduces the sparking that is problematic with some of the older equipment. The other thing is, it doesn’t seem to transfer to wheels, affecting traction. I’ve never tried No-Ox on the railroad.

[gregj410]

I first discovered no ox here https://youtu.be/lBYxjcTWCB0

I have used it sparingly on my little On30 line. I find that things run much smoother, however you have to use it sparingly as it will cause wheel slippage especially on any grades you may have. I recently used it on my 3 rail layout and I had the same problem with wheel slippage. My 3 rail layout is largely flat but I have a rather large jag of rolling stock. Combined with a few missing traction tires it makes for a bad combination. I think it’s beneficial however I don’t think it eliminates track maintenance. Just speaking from my experience.

[RBH29]

I think you may be interested in this link to an article about NO-OX-ID. The author, Dave Farquhar, has a couple of articles that mention it. He recommends applying it very sparingly. Where people get wheel slippage it's probably because they used too much.

https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-to-avoid-c ... nel-track/

Linn Westcott, editor of Model Railroader Magazine wrote an article about it back in 1965.
More recently, the topic's been circulating on the web for about a year. The biggest concern has been whether it deteriorates traction tires or not.

I bought some from Amazon but haven't used it yet so I don't have any personal experience with it.

Richard

[G3750]

I first discovered no ox here https://youtu.be/lBYxjcTWCB0

I have used it sparingly on my little On30 line. I find that things run much smoother, however you have to use it sparingly as it will cause wheel slippage especially on any grades you may have. I recently used it on my 3 rail layout and I had the same problem with wheel slippage. My 3 rail layout is largely flat but I have a rather large jag of rolling stock. Combined with a few missing traction tires it makes for a bad combination. I think it’s beneficial however I don’t think it eliminates track maintenance. Just speaking from my experience.

Thank you! I watched the video. I do have a steamers with traction tires and I may try it anyway.

George

[G3750]

I think you may be interested in this link to an article about NO-OX-ID. The author, Dave Farquhar, has a couple of articles that mention it. He recommends applying it very sparingly. Where people get wheel slippage it's probably because they used too much.

https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-to-avoid-c ... nel-track/

Linn Westcott, editor of Model Railroader Magazine wrote an article about it back in 1965.
More recently, the topic's been circulating on the web for about a year. The biggest concern has been whether it deteriorates traction tires or not.

I bought some from Amazon but haven't used it yet so I don't have any personal experience with it.

Richard

I will check that out shortly. Thank you!

George

[RBH29]

Posts by Wayne and Healey led me to Dave Farquhar's blog so I acknowledge them.

Richard

[G3750]

Updated 5/10/2022:

Resolved some mounting issues with the Arduino in the Open Hearth. Ordered some spacers, mounting feet, and extra jumpers.

Also made a power cable for the relay board using a USB cable - it works!

Fired up one of the relays on the board using a test snippet of Arduino code - it works! We are getting the pieces together.

George

[J. S. Bach]

Sounds good.