Hi All I have been following a couple of threads on this forum and I am wondering if here is a place for basic electronic tutorials. Taking things back to the very basics but in a particle way as attached to model railways. I am thinking of simple circuits and the way I would approach how to translate these to a circuit board and a working model or the railway modeller. I would be willing to take on this role if it was thought that it could be of help. I would try to break down the circuits to the basics that I understand. I have to say now that I am not an electronics engineer but have picked up bits and pieces along the modelling way. I have built several layouts some with a greater degree of electronics than others. I have also built 3D printers a 3D scanner, a CNC router, I have converted a vertical mill to CNC, and I am just converting a lathe to CNC. Now that I am retired and a widower and I have more time to devote to this great hobby and would like to pass on some of what I have learnt. I will wait to see how this post gets received before going head. I will be on holiday for the next fortnight and I was thinking if you want me to go ahead then the first circuit to explore would be coach lighting circuit that Keith M has been talking about.
Hi Matt I think I could do something about that for you. I will wait until I have had a few replies to finalize what will be the first article but as you got in first Be seeing you Bob
An excellent proposition . Being something of a technophobe I try to find a simpler mechanical way of getting round things but I will definitely follow this thread. I particularly like the coach lighting projects. My own preference would be for 7mm projects with dcc. I have several locos with sound but the chips have more functions than I know how to use, lights etc. Cheer's, Pete.
Well RedPiperBob I'm one of these people who have to sit down for about two hours looking at a wiring diagram and then promptly forgetting everything I'd just seen so a point of contact or a simple thread about the subject would be wonderful... I can do 'lectrics to a point but it's not my forte. Anything like that would be great to someone like me. Enjoy your holiday. cheers for now York Paul
Hi Bob, Feel free to go for it. Post up your offerings in the tutorial section and see where it leads. I know that there is great interest in these techy subjects. cheers toto
Support the coach lighting idea as long as someone can also cover how to access the insides of specific carriages without causing permanent damage? Cheers Richard
Hi Richard. Just think along the lines of how the coaches are built on the production line. Nowadays this usually means that everything clips together (none of the Triang/Hornby brass screws through the middle of the coach!) for speed of assembly, so it's really a matter of finding out where these clips are and releasing them as gently as possible. As I usually paint interiors and add passengers as part of my 'upgrades', all my coaches (About 30) have been dismantled and reassembled to allow this. I'm awaiting delivery of five ("Low mileage, 1 owner") Bachmann Mk1 coaches presently, which I've not attempted before, so when I get them, I'll look to the possibility of a "How-to" on these and others including Hornby Pullmans if that'll be any help. Keith.
My personal problem with electronics is the wiring diagrams I get lost very quickly with all those symbols and lines, the schematics always seem to look completely different to the actual finished product. Mike
Thanks Keith Getting at the insides is critical and you are right in that there are those "secret" clip together aspects that if we come across and then share, we will avoid much needless destruction. Looking forward to this thread as while most of my goods rolling stock is nicely weathered, my passenger coaches generally remain in pristine condition as I was hoping to include lighting and interior detailing as part of the weathering process. You might see from my Dargan layout that lighting is something I believe adds a great deal of realism to any layout. Cheers and happy modelling Richard
Part 2 OK all it seems that the coach lighting has won. Don’t worry Matt DC wiring will follow. Now as I said I am going on holiday and will not be starting until I return. But for anyone that would like to build the coach lighting unit here is a list of parts that you will need. The part numbers are Rapid Electronics and the number in brackets is the amount needed per coach. I usually buy several of each as they can be used for all sorts of different circuits. I have no connection with Rapid other than being a very satisfied customer. There are plenty of other places to buy parts from including Ebay. https://www.rapidonline.com Leds 55-0074 (6) Capacitor 11-3534 (1) Bridge Rectifier 47-2962 (1) Resistors 13-0202 (2) this is a kit of resistors you will need other resistors for other projects. Stripboard 34-0540 (If you get one board this will do several coaches I usually by several smaller boards from Ebay) you will also need some wire 7/02 (this means 7 strands of 0.2 mm dia wire ) Wire 01-0405 OK so that’s all for now. I will see you after the hols. be seeing you Bob
Ditto this, I've been trying to work out how the circuit diagram Keith very kindly supplied (Thank you again Keith!) which is very simple to grasp (using my pre GCSE electronics knowledge!) then translates onto the circuit board. Again, thank you so much for supplying the photos Keith, I just think I have a rather large hole in my education as far as circuit boards are concerned! Looking forward to sitting in the classroom Bob, thank you very much. Cheers, Dom
Hi All Just back from the family holiday (skive) will be starting on Monday on opening the coaches and then the hard work starts (only kidding) we will start with the opening of the coach as you have to choose where the little board goes. Now dont forget this is not going to be in depth just easy going all questions are welcome. be seeing you Bob
I reckon there's someone not too far from Dundee whose been dribbling in his cornflakes since you mentioned electronics .. the dark forces awaken .. great idea though Bob