wasdavetheroad

I have started a topic in the Radio Control forum describing how I am trying tension lock uncoupling using radio control. even if you don't want to use radio control you might find the mechanical aspects useful, basically the aim is to allow uncoupling almost anywhere on the layout

I have started a topic in the Radio Control forum describing how I am trying tension lock uncoupling using radio control. even if you don't want to use radio control you might find the mechanical aspects useful

Yes, Deltang receivers are expensive but luckily I still have a considerable amount of N scale stuff to sell which will help fund the project. Dentang receivers are not the only option, others are available on ebay for good prices. You could try a DCC decoder as well with the advantage that you won't need the battery. The basic mechanism can remain the same. An alternative to a micro servo is a small actuator as used in tiny RC model aircraft. I will probably try making a prototype using one of those as well. I bought my servos fromm Micron Radio Control, they do actuators as well http://www.micronradiocontrol.co.uk/actuator.html You mentioned possible difficulty in identifying vehicles and I have given this some thought. I intend to use a Deltang TX22X transmitter which has four switches/buttons, these can be used for operating servos. That is four servos for each of its 12 'Selecta' positions, up to 48 servos! Initially I want to convert 2 passenger rakes. A branch 3/4 coach rake and a main line 3-8 coach rake representing a 'Lakes Express' or Convention Special. These will occupy Selecta position 1, servo 1&2 for the branch train and servo 3&4 for the main line one For goods trains for example my main line pickup goods could have Selecta position 4 and comprise 2 variable length rakes of wagons, each with a converted wagon at each end. I don't have a return loop so all my rolling stock has a fixed orientation. The servo identities reading from left to right. I will also have to give some thought to fitting converted tension locks to some locos and brake vans. The locos already have a receiver installed anyway. I also found that uncoupling is possible on curves down to radius 3 in some cases Here is the TX22X transmitter, servos can be operated using S1, S2, S3 and the bind button. You can also control a servo with the throttle knob A question, why are operating tension locks not fitted as standard in loco tenders?

video of the standard servo working in a wagon, in this case a box van

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND SERVOS Here are the major components, from the top clockwise is a Deltang Rx60 radio receiver, 2 types of mini servo, normal and linear. These operate at up to 4.5V. A single cell LIPO battery. This gives 3.0 to 4.2V and finally a battery connector I used this Deltang transmitter for the prototype control. It can control up 4 independent servos The bits installed in the coach. the servo arm is connected to the coupler with polyester sewing thread, this allows the coupler to act as a normal tension lock as far as coupling is concerned. The 100mAh battery gives up to 5 hours of operation. You can fit a 250mAh instead for 12 hours plus

BASIC OUTLINE OF CONSTRUCTING THE PROTOTYPES I decided I did not have the skills to make my own components so attempted to use commercial products. I checked out various couplers and decided on the Bachmann mini loop screw on coupler as it was easy to modify. A activating arm was folded up from 0.5mm brass wire and super glued to the coupling arm. I used gel glue and filed off the paint on the coupler hook The Dapol coach bogies were modified and the coupling super glued to the bogie. I also replaced the plastic wheels with Hornby replacements The coupling bar height was checked against a home made height gauge, the idea is to have the height above rail set at 8.5mm. Holes were cut in the coach chassis and body floor,here is the bogie fitted to the chassis and the coach body added Next will be the electronics etc

INTRODUCTION Over the last few years I have constructed a continuous run 00 scale layout (Penholme) replacing an extensive modern image N scale predecessor. The new layout is set in the 1950's/60's with steam and diesel power. I have acquired an extensive range of stock on made some progress on scenery and have plenty of operating experience. The layout is constructed on existing baseboards of 150mm blue insulation foam and has no wiring. I had dabbled in radio control back in the 'N' days so adopted it for controlling the locos. Hand control of points and an uncoupling pole have proved adequate so far but there are a number of problems with uncoupling. UNCOUPLING PROBLEMS Uncoupling in awkward places such as behind platforms and or distant from the operator or among lines of vehicles in the fiddle yard, also uncoupling when looking along the length of the train or when up to 4 or 5 metres away. My old eyes and hands make the existing method difficult as well. THE UNCOUPLING PROJECT Use radio control and battery power to allow remote uncoupling anywhere on the layout for selected items of rolling stock. To start with a rake of non corridor passenger coaches for my 'Lakes' branch which uses Penholme as a terminus with coach stabling. The locos used are 4-4-0 or 2-6-0 and have front bogies which will be a problem. There are also short rakes of freight wagons of various types which will be dropped of or picked up by passing 'pick up goods' trains. To start with I constructed two prototypes for passenger coaches. These us Dapol non corridor brakes which have the advantage that they are low priced. Kits are easier to use. Here is the result This is the North (down) end of Penholme. The 2 sidings in the foreground will be the coal yard and the short siding by the signal box is used to load by products from the local gas works There is a small goods yard somewhat inspired by the one at Oxenholme Also a small loco shed and turntable, the two sidings on the right can each hold 8 coaches Prototype construction details later

Yes, one of the R/C transmission protocols, Spektrum in this case. Apart from the transmitter core the Deltang stuff uses standard electronic components, knobs, switches, buttons etc. That small transmitter costs £20 in kit form or you can just buy the Tx core and build your own, people do, my favourite was the steam punk one. You can have the buttons/switches non latching or self centering so the coil is only activated for how long you press the button or deflect the switch, this means you can't accidently leave the coil switched on. Remembering the combinations should be OK. there is a 12 way selector switch on the Tx22 transmitter and each position can control 4 servos. For example position one controls the local branch passenger trains, position 2 the Lakes Express and Convention Special etc etc as far as possible I will be using readily available components as my old hands can't handle the finer work anymore, soldering wires is about my limit.

Here are the main components. Starting at the top is a Deltang Rx60 receiver, normal and linear micro servos, a single cell lipo battery and a battery connector. The servos are designer for up to about 4.5V and the battery on full charge gives 4.2V This is the transmitter I used for initial testing. It can control up to 4 servos or even 5 if you re program the speed control knob. for the final project I will be using a Deltang Tx22X which should allow for control of 48 servos or actuators These are the innards of a wagon I will also be looking at using an actuator and will be trying one of these Deltang Rx41 which has 2 'F' outputs which can handle up to 2A It is less than 10mm square

This one has 2 wagons

hope this video works

'Grease' would be sticky and make the situation worse. You could try adding some soft graphite from a pencil on the bearings

I am constructing some prototypes of a tension lock coupler which uses a servo to lift the coupling arm. In my case they will be mounted on wagons/coaches rather than locos. Having a flexible connection between the servo and the coupling hook allows the coupler to function as a normal tension lock as well. I use radio control for the servo with a small battery for power. Must take some photos and learn how to produce video

Confused, if the loco is stopped there is not any track power as there is zero V, in which case reversing the polarity won't do anything until you apply power? Or do you turn the controller knob until the loco stops but don't turn it to 'zero'

this might work. It is a DPDT switch

Is the power you are trying to 'cut' energising the magnet? If so a 'momentary action 'cutting key' will switch the magnet off for a fraction of a second, but why would that jog the engine? Or if the loco is DC is it still moving when crossing the coupling? If so a 'cutting key' briefly reversing the positive and negative would jolt the engine?

I presume that rival manufacturers will know what is going on and will be planning their reaction to the final announcement Meanwhile what do we know of the good and bad points of BlueRail Trains original board. For me it had enormous potential but serious shortcomings Maybe the new boards will be essentially handling communications, user interface and power management or could they also have complete 'decoder' options

OK . I concede that it was a special interest group back then so why was this topic not placed there? The original BlueRail Trains board was certainly not DCC and we have no evidence that the new versions will be DCC either

The radio control forum did not exist when this thread was started. No, you could argue DCC systems with radio throttles connected to base stations which transmit signals via the rails are not radio control, they are hybrids. DCCWiki says : Radio Control (R/C) means using a non-DCC standard radio controller to talk directly to a train, not using a command station. That is, using a proprietary receiver/transmitter by a specific company. As I wrote elsewhere, time will give us the answer

Just had this idea, continue talking about it in both forums until we actually know what it is, at which points the moderators can move the discussion(s) to the appropriate forum

Ron, Radio control because that is what it is, simple really! Or did the moderators intend that Radio control should only about stuff that had nothing to do with DCC. If so they should have made it clear

The radio control forum is also the right place to discuss such things as Bluetooth is radio communications so may I suggest the moderators move this topic into that forum so that readers won't be confused or miss anything because they are looking in the wrong forum.

Definition of radio control? Where the commands are transmitted from the 'control device' to the 'receiving device' (for example loco or accessory) using radio frequencies. A radio throttle connected to a command station using the rails to deliver the commands would not count but using a radio throttle connected to a command station that delivered the commands using radio would be radio control. for example using the App on a smart device as a command station and a Bluetooth connected throttle for tactile control

It will be months before we find out the true nature of the beast. Personally I don't care if it is DCC as long as I don't have to wire the track. and it is legal in the UK

Hold on folks, this is being posted in the radio control forum as well. The moderators need to decide which is the best forum for it, probably when we find out if it is a DCC system or a radio digital command control system that is not backwards compatible with existing DCC stuff