I have a NIB but out of warranty animated billboard. At 10-15 volts it makes a quiet thud and that's all. What can I check for before I take it apart, which I am very hesitant to do?
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If the billboard is going back and forth and changing images than it’s pretty much doing what it’s supposed to do. They do make a clunking sound when it changes position and will even move a bit if you don’t screw it down with the two mounting holes in the back.
It does not move at all.
Not really sure then. You may just have to open it up and see what’s happening. Hopefully it’s something simple.
That was my thought. I am averse opening it but only as a last resort.
I have one and it did the same when I put it in on the layout. The parts that slide were stuck together and a little on the mechanism. I did take mine apart and with patience got it going. I just had to manually work it until I freed it all up.
I don’t remember it being horrible but it took time to free it. it’s noisy as heck so it gets turned off rather quickly but I like it
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Marty Thank You for the video. I was questioning what everyone was talking about as I do not own one and actually have not even heard or seen one. Pretty Cool but I agree it is noisy but almost all accessories are. Thank You again I enjoyed the video.
It would be nice operating accessories to run more often if it had a smooth quiet back and forth motion. I have a couple of Christmas ones I just put out on the layout at Christmas time but I don’t run them.
Thank you, Marty. That is the one I have. I was expecting a smooth sliding transition from one image to another but this will work for me. On to taking it apart and making it so!
I run mine with around 9 vdc activated by an insulated rail. The lower voltage slows the interval down and it only changes when a train passes. The train helps mask the noise.
John H: thanks for offering that lower voltage comment. I'll try that on my 2021 Christmas layout. I have the Lionel/Milk on and like others I don't operate it due to the clunky noise. I just leave it on the Milk display.
Would appreciate it if you can explain something to me (electrically not the brightest!) - how do you power it with DC but use an AC powered track to trigger it?
- walt
Years ago I participated in a Christmas display in a local community center. We had several of these on the layout operated by push buttons. They were a real crowd pleaser! Now I use them on my home display and the grand kids love to watch them change. Push buttons really are the way to go for these billboards.
Rolland
Walt, I use a PC power supply that supplies 12 vdc to the layout. AC and DC can share a common ground in most instances, so I use an insulated rail to ground the billboard. I run it through a DC to DC converter to get the voltage to under ten volts to slow down the cycle. I have over 20 buildings, numerous signals, and 3 MTH yard towers all lit with leds drawing less than 3 amps total.
