I am trying to figure out how to slow down the rotation of the 494 Beacon. What have been the common ways to do this? I have it on an Aux output of a ZW with other accessories so I need to add something to the feed to this only.
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You must be a pilot as well. I too have thought it would be cool to slow it down. Maybe even make it military. Blue----white-white.
Put a resister in line with the 494. Someone else will have to tell you what value to get. I have one on mine but don't remember what it is.
Yeah I need someone to recommend the ohms and wattage for me.
So no one has ever done this?
@Highwayman posted:What have been the common ways to do this?
I use a 1010 transformer. Similar ones can be had all day long for $3 - $5(Lionel, Flyer, Marx, Allstate, etc.)
@Highwayman posted:I am trying to figure out how to slow down the rotation of the 494 Beacon. What have been the common ways to do this? I have it on an Aux output of a ZW with other accessories so I need to add something to the feed to this only.
You are talking about the 494, with the "magic washer," correct?
It's easy. Take a standard garden hose washer and cut it down so it fits on top of the drive washer inside the beacon top (where the adhesive washer should be.) Set the beacon top in place and you should be all set. If you need, you can file the hose washer to be a little thinner to speed it up some, but for me a standard washer works fine.
So, to be clear, the drive washer sits on the coil, the hose washer sits on the drive washer, and the beacon top sits on the hose washer.
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Good point, I was thinking of the 394! With the 494 you can just change the voltage, that usually does it.
@PLCProf posted:You are talking about the 494, with the "magic washer," correct?
It's easy. Take a standard garden hose washer and cut it down so it fits on top of the drive washer inside the beacon top (where the adhesive washer should be.) Set the beacon top in place and you should be all set. If you need, you can file the hose washer to be a little thinner to speed it up some, but for me a standard washer works fine.
So, to be clear, the drive washer sits on the coil, the hose washer sits on the drive washer, and the beacon top sits on the hose washer.
Now that is an interesting idea!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Good point, I was thinking of the 394! With the 494 you can just change the voltage, that usually does it.
Yes this is what I am wanting to accomplish. At 18V and ~1A I am thinking about a 20 Watt potentiometer or a rheostat but I wanted to get feedback from those who might have already done this as to what the resistance value should be.
@GVDobler posted:You must be a pilot as well. I too have thought it would be cool to slow it down. Maybe even make it military. Blue----white-white.
Military airfields use green, like civilian airports, but with a split white beacon.
Of course you're correct, don't know what I was thinking.
@Highwayman posted:Now that is an interesting idea!
I followed through with cutting the washer to size to fit but it brought the rotation to a halt. I couldn't see me being able to file the washer any thinner so I played with it more and tried adding a piece of cardboard from a food box that is printed smooth finish on one side and the speed is now perfect and the light is still bright.
Thanks for all of the replies to help me out with this!
@Highwayman posted:I followed through with cutting the washer to size to fit but it brought the rotation to a halt. I couldn't see me being able to file the washer any thinner so I played with it more and tried adding a piece of cardboard from a food box that is printed smooth finish on one side and the speed is now perfect and the light is still bright.
Thanks for all of the replies to help me out with this!
Glad it worked out for you!
