dale159

GWR - Get Wrecked Responsibly. Dale

This morning I have wired up and tested the two connectors I fitted for the Dynamis handset, all is good there. I am now looking for a means of mounting the receiver at the back of the fiddle yard and two places to fit the extra Infra-red receivers from the Dynamis Pro at either end of the layout. On a similar electrical note I am toying with the idea of replacing the 3 point detector boards boards under the control panel, instead working the lights on the panel with a micro switch fitted to the underside of each point, the drawback with this is it will be a lot of work and I will need to fit an extra connector or swap an existing connector for one with more wires across several board joints to give me enough wires to do this. Another clear out of assorted clutter that has built up on the scenic side is required before I can hopefully get on and finish track laying. Dale

I did think about that Phil, unfortunately I couldn't find a suitable connector small enough to fit into the limited space inside. Dale

Just a quick update from the last 10 days or so. Track laying has continued and is nearly finished (more clutter!) Unfortunately there has been yet another revision to the track plan, not through choice this time. While testing with a rake of 5 mk3s substituting for an un-built 442 I found these coaches which are coupled with Kadee No.5s unable to negotiate the reverse curves from the platforms to the carriage sidings. So the curve points had to go and have been replaced with a pair of medium radius points, doesn't look as good but it has stopped the derailment problem. A new edition to the fiddle yard side is a pair of 2 way speaker connectors, one either side of the control panel. And what do they do? They will be hooked up to a 6v power supply to power my Dynamis handset which has had its warranty well and truly invalidated, as I was sick of it drinking batteries but I like the usability too much to get rid of it so hopefully this will be a good modification - it will still be capable of working on batteries away from my layout - details of how it was done here. Dale

Just a quick update. My Dynamis handset now has 8 feet of cable protruding from the bottom of it. I was hoping to fit the cable through the lanyard clip but the size of the cable meant this was not possible so the lanyard will go back into the box, I tested the handset on both the transformer I bought, which is yet to be plumbed into my layout, and on battery power (obviously batteries are removed if running on mins power) And for attaching the other end of the cable to the layout I am using 2 way speaker connectors, 2 fitted so far one each side of the fiddle yard control panel. Dale

Success! My order from Rapid Electronics came today and within 10 minutes of unpacking the parcel I have a Dynamis Handset operating without batteries. A quick continuity test with the multi-meter confirmed that the battery holders I identified previously are linked directly to the points on the PCB board I have been testing with, which makes me happier because these will be a lot easier to solder to than those tiny holes on the PCB. Screen without low battery warning as per previous test. Thank you to everyone for their input that has helped me get this sorted. Dale

I have ordered the transformer from Rapid as linked to previously, I have also bought some stereo speaker wire type connectors of which I am going to place several around my layout in the event I bought another Dynamis handset and in theory I think I should still be able to use it with batteries away from my layout. Dale

I think this might do the job just right set at 6v - https://www.rapidonline.com/powerpax-uk-sw4177-mini-regulated-voltage-adjustable-psu-85-1683 Dale

Partial success this evening. First I found a brand new pack of 4 AAA batteries which I measured at 1.62v each on my Multi-meter, I then installed them in the dismantled handset with the assistance of the G-clamps as per yesterday I then measured 6.4v between the Ubatt and GND points and 5.5v between between UB and GND, However still exactly 3.67v from VCC to GND So I powered up the alarm clock transformer mentioned yesterday and wired this between Ubatt and GND and my Dynamis handset fully powered up without batteries, although at only 5.5v this caused the low battery symbol to be displayed on the screen. I then swapped this transformer for my Gaugemaster controller set to 6v but unfortunately this gave the same outcome as the previous time I tried it with all the on screen symbols being displayed when powered up, I imagine this controller is pumping out too many amps for the unit to handle. Dale

After a few struggles holding the batteries in with the back removed from the handset, eventually resorting to a pair of G-clamps, I have managed to measure the voltages between the 4 terminals which are as follows. Ubatt-GND is 5.5v and I can measure this even with the handset turned off. Ub-GND is between 4.50v and 4.56v and can only be measured with the unit on. VCC-GND is 3.67v I suspect pumping 6v into the battery terminals as I did the other day caused it to enter some sort of surge protection mode (Idiot proofing from people like me!) to prevent PCB parts melting. I have found a surplus power lead from an old radio alarm clock which gives its output as 5.5v at 1 amp, my multi-meter says this is accurate, I'm wondering if this is going to be any use. Dale

Thank you Phil, I'll need to sit and re-read that on the computer to take it in properly but I think I've got the basics of it. Dale

Thank you for your reply. I think I have understood most of it, are you saying that it likely runs on 5v but 6v from the batteries is not enough to harm it. I have multimeter which I used to set the voltage, I chose 6v as this would be equal to the 4 batteries in series. I measured 2 of the batteries (not all that new) both gave a reading of 1.38v Perhaps if I supplied 3v to each pair of positive and negative terminals exactly as through batteries would then it may work, might try that tomorrow. Dale

I've just taken the plunge and applied power from my Gaugemaster controller to the two terminals on the Dynamis handset PCB I identified previously. Good news is that it does light up as it would on battery power however it did not get passed the boot stage where all the screen icons are illuminated, this only stays on for about a second normally but was still on after 5 or so under Gaugemaster power so I'm not sure what's going on there. Dale

Thank you for your kind comments. There is a lot of junk in the garage unfortunately it's not mine to be disposing of, I do try to keep as much as possible out of pictures! Cardboard boxes of various foodstuffs have probably come from our nearby Lidl store in lieu of buying carrier bags and they can be useful for storage. Dale

Gaugemaster model P, the track feed from that is variable DC. Dale

I was thinking of using my Gaugemaster controller set to the right voltage with a multi-meter. Dale

Hello again, Thank you to everyone who has helped with ideas for my Dynamis. I haven't looked much further into anything as yet, I've been too busy working on my layout - quite rare for me! I have recently acquired a second hand Dynamis Pro box and additional Infra-red receiver, giving a total of 3 including the one from my original Dynamis with scope to add 2 more, so I think that should be the Infra-red signal covered. Back to the handset, I took it apart again and had a poke around with a multi-meter and discovered as follows. I could only get continuity between terminals 2&3. So I believe 2-3 is a link between the 4 batteries in series and if I were to apply 6v at terminals 1 and 4 as marked on the picture all should be good although I am yet to test this, I also reckon, assuming it all works, I should still be able to use the handset on battery power away from my own layout. My only concern is finding a power supply which isn't going to give too many amps at 6v that is going to damage the innards. I will report back with further updtes Dale

That better? Dale

I'm still pottering away at the layout when time permits. I've been working on the cassette fiddle yard for the Electric platforms. The interface between track and cassette are 1 inch pieces of the same Aluminium angle as used on the cassettes. These have been screwed down using a some screws leftover from from our new Kitchen on top of a piece of 1/8th cork I found lying around, giving the perfect height from rail to angle. I made a short video of the cassettes under test with a mk3 coach which is the longest vehicle likely to use them. Today I found some washers from some spare switches, these have had wires soldered to them and will be the power supply for each cassette, I found that they are isolated from all 4 rails which will be very handy. Overview of the latest work with track for the carriage sidings starting to go down. I have found the fishplates I had previously lost but I have now run out of SMP track so I will have to get some more. Dale

Another long overdue layout update. I've been working on Rolling stock recently which is something I suppose I could post on here to keep it fresh. Access has been a bit limited this week as we are having a new kitchen which has involved filling in the old kitchen door and knocking a hole in the wall to the dining room so the garage has been filled up with stuff from there. I got into the swing of track laying in the station throat for the electric platforms and worked out where everything needs to go whilst avoiding putting points on top of timbers underneath. Tracks pinned up to the cassette ends, need to rummage round for a suitable piece of wood to pack them up to rail height, something I failed to consider when I made the cassettes so these will also be rebuilt with thicker, sturdier ply to bring them up to the right height. Overview of the track laid today (2 pictures crudely stitched together in MS paint) - I have used the drawing pins as I ran out of double sided tape and it actually holds the track down better than the tape! Overview from the operators possition, track connecting to the through platforms isn't pinned down or connected at the far end yet, was just placed down to see if one length of SMP was long enough, which it is with about an inch to spare. The loco spur originally planned to be between the carriage sidings and main lines will now be at the back on the unused end of the 3 way point. Before I can do much else I need to find the fishplates I bought recently now the existing stock I had has now run out and I need to glue some cork down for the carriage siding roads. Hopefully more updates soon now I've conquered the one thing that was causing me a headache! Dale

As long there were enough coaches available to keep the existing services running while a full rake was rewired for HST power cars as obviously it wouldn't be possible to do them one at a time. Dale

Looking at pictures on Flickr, the 73/9s in Caledonian Sleeper livery have lost their high level air pipes but retain the high level jumper whereas the ordinary GBRf 73/9s have retained everything albeit stowed away at a funny angle as not to block the Wipac lights. And of course a re-engineered 73 has more diesel power than original so could be well suited as a push/pull loco for a 442 away from the juice. Dale

Thank you for your replys. I have had time this afternoon to take apart my own Dynamis and see what is inside - It is actually very well made as I had the whole thing apart and re-assembled (and working) in about 15 minutes. First up the base station, just one screw hiding under the Infra-red receiver hold it all together. Top Bottom Then the Infra Red receiver itself Top Bottom. And finally the Handset. I couldn't take the board out of the handset for a picture of the other side as the thumb control prevents the board from being moved more than a few mm - must be put on afterwards, don't know if it can be removed. Now my knowledge of PCBs such as this is quite limited so I don't really know what to look for, especially when it comes to the Infra-red side of it. Hopefully it is just a case that the handset converts the control inputs into Infra red where the base station then converts them back again, if there if any amplifying of the signals in between these two then I think it could be a little bit beyond me. Dale

My initial thought was just for purpose of bypassing the battery usage then I thought if I could do that could I not do the same for the infra-red too. I do own a pack of 4 AAA rechargeables but I've never used them as you said knowing they ate only 1.2v rather than 1.5v the difference may upset the handset. Dale

Hi Colin. Yes sorry if that's not very clear. The talk of DMUs is just an example of why I prefer the Dynamis and continue to use it. My main question is can you improve it by connecting a cable between the two halves bypassing the Infra-Red and saving lots of AAA batteries. Dale