LED Strip Lighting

LED strip lighting (warm white) above my Aliwal North SAR micro layout. 
(These were left overs from my Kitchen makeover). The Computer power supply was scrapped by a Computer technician, I grabbed it, tested and found nothing wrong with it. Recycling is the way forward!! Need to install some more cool white LED strip lighting or CFL Bulbs, balancing the colour temperature. (Too yellow for my liking). 

I had indeed installed 3 x 9 watt Cool white CFL full spiral bulbs this afternoon - now I am satisfied.

(Click on photos to view larger images.) 



To Switch On This Power Supply, You Need To Connect
The Green And The Black Wires Together.

Warm White LED strips

Installed 3 x 9 watt cool white CFL full spiral bulbs.

Bulb Flash T2 Full Spiral 9 watt E27 cool white.

The First effect: 
with ONLY a 5 meter Warm white LED strip.
Too warm for my liking...

The Second effect: 
with ONLY 3 x 9 watt Cool white CFL full spiral bulbs.
Too cold for my liking...

The Third effect: 
with BOTH a 5 meter warm white LED strip AND 
3 x 9watt cool white CFL full spiral bulbs. NICE BALANCE !!
The correct colour temperature and correct realistic shadows.
I PREFER THIS LOOK - Good for shooting Videos and for 
capturing Still Images without the need for Flashlights.

Amateurish Weathering

Aliwal North SAR micro layout - my amateurish way of weathering my SAR Diesel Locomotives…
"with weathered rubber dust and a tiny paint brush" ongoing project...

(Click on photo to view a larger image.)

Sponged and dry brushed with Revell Aqua Color - Earth brown matt to achieve a lightly weathered look for the following two freight wagons...

Caterpillar D5M tied down with "real" steel cable 
to the SAR U-13 abnormal load wagon.

One lightly weathered SAR goods train... 
Mainly bogie side frames, knuckle couplers 
(here you have to be very careful), 
gate handles and chassis areas were weathered, 
a little does a lot.

Motorcycle Build

Something else... If your garage is too small for a serious motorcycle build, you can clear a spot on your desk, GET YOUR DREMEL TOOLKIT, pull out those old wristwatches you tossed in a drawer a couple of years ago and get started today. All of these motorcycles are built from discarded wristwatch parts, they're what you might call a real pocket bike because they'll obviously fit in your pocket without any trouble. I think they're pretty neat.

I have named this one a Triumph Roadster... mounted on a piece of Imbuia and is used for a desk pen holder. Was my first attempt (A weekend project)...

A 2008 KTM 450 EXCR Enduro motorcycle (model)... mainly built from discarded men's wristwatch parts. (My second attempt, 20 hours labour)

Dust free inside its custom built
plexiglass enclosures.

Point Motor Energiser aka CDU

Assembling a batch of PME (Point Motor Energiser) printed circuit boards for the South African market... The third batch!! (Part number = AND-01)
PME provides a reserve charge to ensure that a good voltage is available to throw point motors. Especially useful when several motors are thrown by one lever, setting cross-overs for example.

The PME stores an electrostatic power charge in capacitors and when a point motor is actuated, discharges in one big punch giving the point motor a firm and positive switching action.
When connected to points via switches or probe and studs.
It will prevent burnt out solenoids of point motors.

Twin 2200µf Capactors. Input: 15v to 20v A.C. or D.C.

The finished product - commissioned and 
ready for the South African market.

Point Motor Energiser board for 

points motors.

Ideal for Hornby, Peco & Seep

Imperative to have one board installed 

per Layout! - to protect your 

valuable point motors!

Each module with instruction sheet inside a Ziploc bag.

A batch of Point Motor Energiser boards with Instruction sheets was shipped to Randpark Ridge, Randburg, Johannesburg on Friday February 07, 2014.

Embossed / Resin Dome Labels

New embossed / resin dome labels for "SMILODON 3000 DTC™" and the labels for the power connections at the back of the controller.

(Click on photo to view a larger image.)

 



More embossed labels: 
"Smilodon 3000 STC ™" 
and "Smilodon 2000 STC ™"

DCC and DC wiring tips

Link: LOTS & LOTS of valuable info and TIPS here - Not only DCC - for DC as well.



My AND-01 printed circuit board wired similar to CDU shown in this diagram. 
AND-01 can be utilised for DC and DCC layouts.




Wiring Electro Frog - polarity switch
mounted under solenoid motor.
(Click on image to view a larger image.)

Automatic Double Reverse / Return loop

LINK: Ideas as seen on Azatrax's Website - I have learnt a lot from this site.

My research started here:

(Click on image to view a larger image.)
(NOTE: DC model train controller - highlighted)

I would rather separate the two DC track feeds 
and connect the DC train controller as in 
above circuit to eliminate possible short 
circuits at "X" and "M", when a 
Locomotive crosses these areas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was encouraged to design my own printed circuit 
boards and controllers! Making use of a much 
cheaper method of sensing train movement. 
Enjoyed the challenge though!

Schematic diagram of my Automatic 

Double Reverse / Return loop (Fig. 1)

I have achieved 100% flawless Automatic Reversing operations since February 2013, using this cost effective method!

In this post I shall show you how to wire the reverse loops and point motors of turnouts/switches on a double-loop layout with a single connecting main line. Wiring a reversing loop (or turn-around track) may seem complicated, but if you take one step at a time and check your work, you will have a fully automated reverse loop and worry-free train operation.

The challenge:To achieve Full Automatic Track Potential Reversal and Automatic Turnout Control when a train passes the Reed Switch Sensors, without the manually throwing of mechanical toggle switches...

The technique:

Track power of Loops A and B are controlled by one single DC Controller or by one side of a DC Dual Controller whilst the centre bi-directional Main Track is controlled by another single DC Controller or by the other side of the same DC Dual Controller via my Return Loop Toggle Switch (RLTS-1). [Toggle meaning that the rail potentials are reversed or changed every time the train is moving in the opposite direction]

MONTHS OF PLANNING WENT INTO THE DESIGN OF THIS CONCEPT, BUILDING IT AND EVENTUALLY PUTTING IT IN SERVICE - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST A QUESTION IF NEEDED - ENJOY !

Please make use of two single DC Controllers or one DC Dual Controller with two isolated controlled outputs to feed this circuit!!



Fig.1   (Click on the image and 

save it to your PC 

for better viewing.)

The beauty of this Automatic Double Reverse / Return  loop: 

I can manually change the direction of a Locomotive and the full train length by changing the loop entry by simply pressing a push button momentarily. 
More enjoyment operating a layout with loops and it is fairly easy to add more loops anywhere on an existing layout when you need to expand the layout!!

For DC and DCC Layouts.

ALL MODULAR TECHNOLOGY

I made use of reed switches 

to automate my double 

reverse/return loop!! 

The exact mounting position 

of the reed switches to 

be planned accurately.  

Please refer to Fig.1 and 
Fig.2 as basic guidelines.

Next you will need these items 
in order to complete your 
automatic double 
reverse/return loop!! 

2 x Points, PCBs (shown below), 
2 x Point Motors and three 
push buttons with normally 
open contacts.

All four PCBs are needed in order 
to complete your automatic 
double reverse/return loop.

 For DC and DCC Layouts.

LINK: Please follow this secure link to my custom built Printed Circuit Boards

Only the Locomotive in the front 
of the train should be fitted with 

a Static Magnet in the front end, 
underside of this leading 
Locomotive.

(Ten seconds Super Glue Gel was 
used for mounting the magnet)

IMPORTANT: 
Only one magnet is allowed in 
one train in the front for flawless 
operation of reverse/return loops!

Two-rail model train layouts require special treatment of reversing tracks. Wiring reversing tracks is not complicated, but it must be done correctly. 

Fig.2   (Click on the image and save it to your personal computer for better viewing.)

Explanatory Wiring Diagram: 

Simplified Automatic Reverse/Return Loops ~ 

making use of my proven custom built 

state of the art RLTS-1, AND-02 

Printed Circuit Boards and 

custom built Smilodon 3000 DTC™ 

DC Model Train Controller. 

Sensors S1 ,S2, S3 and S4 are ordinary 

Reed Switches mounted between the ties. 

**On the diagram, starting from top right corner, 

for Direction B to A. 

PLEASE note that the RLTS-1 option 1 board 

was in the toggled state and was toggled 

back to the NORMAL state after the 

Locomotive has passed the S3 sensor. 

Follow the turquoise and orange arrows. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any better 

way explaining this procedure! 

It appears to be very technical, but it is 

really a very simple procedure 

and very easy to wire.

 For DC and DCC Layouts.

Another explanation with reference to Fig.2:

At the top half of the diagram, starting from the right, for Direction B to A.

PLEASE NOTE: the RLTS-1 option 1 board is in the TOGGLED state at this stage and is toggled back to the NORMAL state when the Locomotive (orange arrow) passes the S3 sensor. The S4 sensor on the other hand, triggers the turquoise marked RLTS-1 option 2 board to switch point motors X and Y to the desired operational status via the AND-02 capacitor discharge unit. Now follow the turquoise arrows from right to left. 

At the bottom half of the diagram, starting from the left, for Direction A to B.

PLEASE NOTE: the RLTS-1 option 1 board is in the NORMAL state at this stage and is toggled to the TOGGLED state when the Locomotive (turquoise arrow) passes the S1 sensor. The S2 sensor on the other hand, triggers the orange marked RLTS-1 option 2 board to switch point motors X and Y to the desired operational status via the AND-02 capacitor discharge unit. Now follow the orange arrows from left to right.