When I raise my bascule bridge with traditional engines, the engine stops and auto restarts when the bridge is lowered. When I raise my bascule bridge with a digital control engine, the engine stops correctly when the bridge is raised. However, when the bridge is lowered the engine does not restart automatically. What do I need to do to make digital control engines restart automatically.
Thanks for any help or suggestion.
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They don't work that way, they are designed to have constant power to the track.
At one time Lionel suggested using an adjustable resistor, which was a pre-war accessory, set to leak enough voltage into the insulated block to keep the E-unit energized but not enough voltage to allow the engine to move. Lionel cautioned the blocks had to be longer to allow for the additional coasting of the engine.
Wonder if the same concept can be used for the electronic engines? You would have to experiment with the setting to determine the minimum voltage to keep the electronics live and not allow the engine to move.
@James McGehee Jr. posted:When I raise my bascule bridge with traditional engines, the engine stops and auto restarts when the bridge is lowered. When I raise my bascule bridge with a digital control engine, the engine stops correctly when the bridge is raised. However, when the bridge is lowered the engine does not restart automatically. What do I need to do to make digital control engines restart automatically.
Jim,
You'll have to use your engine in conventional mode for this to work as originally intended. Turn off the power to your Base-x and disconnect its antenna wire to your track. Then lock your engine into forward using it's "program/run" switch as explained in your operator's manual.
It should work just fine if you approach it in this way.
A fully command mode capable version of this bridge does not exist but could be designed fairly easily.
It would need a microcontroller that could send a stop command sequence to the locomotive when it's approaching and the bridge is in the open position, and then send a resume command sequence, or an equivalent spin of the throttle wheel on the Cab-x, once the bridge has closed.
To do this, of course, this new "smart bridge" would need to know and select the ID of the engine so as to send these commands to the correct engine as it approaches.
For those inclined, mainly tinkerers, this would be a good job for an Arduino to handle if Lionel never gets around to it.
Mike
This could be an application of the Layout Control System (LCS) using an infra-red track sensor to control the stopping and re-starting of the loco. I know that some of the sensors sold out quickly and weren't reissued. I really hope Lionel embraces the potential of LCS when they launch the BASE-3!
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