Bluerail Trains Circuit Board Questions

I guess the ultimate question is, which board should I buy for a small DC can motor if I have no intention to run DCC?  I would prefer to have accessory pins to control lighting.  Can I get by with the 2 amp version for both of these motors?

Can motors:

Mabuchi rs-365sh

and 

One of these for a dockside switcher:

The October issue of OGRR magazine (Run 314) which is out in digital format contains a detailed description of the new BlueRailTrains control board. Also, the BlueRailTrains website is very informative and complete on installation.

Thank you, Bob.  I've read your description from a few years ago when you were pioneering this technology in with O gauge equipment.

I was poking around on the BlueRail website and was thrown off when one moment I was on the bluerailtrains.com site, then I would click "BUY NOW" where I was directed to a totally different website called deadrailinstalls.com, which was further compounded by the fact that Tam Valley is apparently manufacturing the boards now?

I will check out Run 314, thank you for the reference.

It's a three way joint venture. BlueRailTrains handles the design, TamValleyDepot manufactures the boards and DeadRailInstalls is handling sales and deliveries. The best overall info is on the BlueRailTrains website.

Thanks for clarifying, Bob. You have a very nice article in Run 314.  You’re too modest in not claiming your own work in the reply above. 😀 Your article clears up many of my questions. 

This may be a dumb question, but  if I had the DCC decoder and speaker, would I get chuff sounds, while running in Basic mode (Not DCC)? 

There are no sounds in basic mode. But with a DCC decoder, it would be best to run in DCC mode in order to get sounds.

Thanks for the nice compliment. I did provide some technical support, but the applause should go to Dave Rees and his team for a job well done on the new BlueRail board.

@BOB WALKER posted:

There are no sounds in basic mode. But with a DCC decoder, it would be best to run in DCC mode in order to get sounds.

Thanks for the nice compliment. I did provide some technical support, but the applause should go to Dave Rees and his team for a job well done on the new BlueRail board.

Bob, wouldn't he still be able to get sounds thru his handheld transmitter (Ipad, cellphone, etc), like the original Bluerail boards?

And of course he could always do what you helped me with on installing a bluetooth speaker:

The diagram indicates G-scale, but I also used it in a Williams E7 and Weaver RS3, but with smaller speakers.

The BIK-U3/6 is a module offered by RCS Australia, it includes screw terminals for the wiring, an on/off switch, fuses for 3 or 6 amps, and a charging jack.  Takes about 2 weeks to get from AU.  I think I've mentioned the Gems Bluetooth Speaker before, just do a search on the forum for details and photos.

Here's what the BIK-U3/6 module looks like.  He has a new module that has just a SPST switch vice the DPDT, very easy to hookup.  RCS of New England may also offer these or similar modules:

@Bob Delbridge posted:

Bob, wouldn't he still be able to get sounds thru his handheld transmitter (Ipad, cellphone, etc), like the original Bluerail boards?

And of course he could always do what you helped me with on installing a bluetooth speaker:

I believe the newest BR boards gave up on sounds in favor of more functionality.  But as said earlier, a DCC decoder could be added for sound.

I used the Tsunami TSU-2200, but I think next time I will spend the couple extra dollars ad get the TSU-4400.  They have all screw connections and there is no need to solder.

@JD2035RR posted:

This may be a dumb question, but  if I had the DCC decoder and speaker, would I get chuff sounds, while running in Basic mode (Not DCC)?

JD.

You do not need a DCC system.  You can run the BlueRail board and a DCC sound controller off of AC Track power if you want.

See this video

Thanks Ron, I was going off my faulty memory!

@BOB WALKER

I’ve see a video of Bluerail installed in a Williams GP30 using a AC/DC converter of your design. What we don’t see is the wiring to the Williams sound and/or control boards.

https://youtu.be/tiWBG_vbKvw

Can you elaborate, please?

thanks,

Mario

That GP-30 in the video did not have on-board sound after conversion to BlueRail and all of the factory installed electronics was removed. For on-board sound with the original BlueRail module you would need to add a separate bluetooth receiver/amplifier (the white rectangle in the attached) plus a speaker. With the current BlueRailDCC module, on-board sound is available with a companion sound equipped DCC decoder.

@BOB WALKER

Bob, what design did you use for the ac/dc converter on the gp30 loco? Is it just a full wave rectifier and a couple caps feeding a 7812 voltage regulator? 

Thanks!

Bobby

The AC to DC converter is very simple.

A bridge rectifier, a 33mfd capacitor and a 12V fixed voltage regulator. See attached.

Have used this design quite often

Thank you!