RMT Caboose Pickup?

There is probably some sort of capacitor circuit you can put in the caboose to prevent flicker. I’m sure quite a few folks will have that solution. I’m pretty sure GRJ sells a board that will do it. If he doesn’t notice this by tomorrow night, reask the question in electrical. “How can I stop flickering lights in my RMT caboose?”

A gen purp.  diode (or bridge rect.) , and a few thousand+ uf  cap. (35v+).

It really depends on the bulb / led. The bigger the bulb draw, or longer before dimming you want, the more uf you'll want. Think of a capacitor as a fast rechargable battery without much stamina. They can be run parallel to get more uf from smaller caps.  (+ to +/- to - e.g.- 2200uf + 2200uf + 600uf = 5000uf etc)

The amount of uf needed to keep a bulb lit for a split second will light an L.E.D. for a few seconds easy. 

Flickering may be caused by your track contact to rollers. Suggest you clean track and roller.

I normally run my CNJ RMT caboose with a freight train on a 200ft loop with only 2 track wire connectors/lockons BUT...in using the RMT/Kline super snap track exclusively, I have also used metal pins to connect the 3 rails on every track section.

This process is great for tubular 3-rail track and possible other brands of 3-rail track too.

Walter/RMT

Just to ask the question, have you cleaned the roller and the wheels?  A second pickup is a great idea, but a little elbow grease makes a big difference too.

Also - did you call RMT?  They are pretty friendly folks.

RMT...Ready Made Trains posted:

Flickering may be caused by your track contact to rollers. Suggest you clean track and roller.

I normally run my CNJ RMT caboose with a freight train on a 200ft loop with only 2 track wire connectors/lockons BUT...in using the RMT/Kline super snap track exclusively, I have also used metal pins to connect the 3 rails on every track section.

This process is great for tubular 3-rail track and possible other brands of 3-rail track too.

Walter/RMT

 

Yes, track and roller pickup (singular) is as clean as it's going to get.  This unit only has one roller, which is not the industry standard.  Yes I know a cap would help, ( I have some 470uF 35v caps and diodes) but this unit should have 2 pickups in contact with the center rail at all times for even better conductivity.  We get lots of kids with disabilities through our museum layouts and we literally had to pull this little caboose from the roster until it can be addressed somehow. 

Upgrade it to LED lighting.  This and a short strip of LED's will solve the problem, no flickering at all.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Upgrade it to LED lighting.  This and a short strip of LED's will solve the problem, no flickering at all.

I think I have one left in my stash.  I was going to have you bring several to York for me, but I don't know if York is going to happen.     I hate to use my "good modules" on this project.  What do you think of just using a 220uh choke> 4003 Diode> 470uh cap> 470 ohm resistor> 3-6 LED Strip?  Or I could use a 20mA current limiter in place of the 470 resistor...

York ain't happening this spring, but we still have the mail.   You're going to a lot of trouble to save a little module, you can get more of them.

If you want to "roll your own for the caboose, consider the following.

Volphin posted:

...at the club we have an AEC RMT caboose with a single pickup roller.  I'd like to add a second one...

It looks like the Lionel 9050-150 collector assembly might just snap in to the RMT truck. They look very similar in their form/function & attachment.

Here is the 9050-100 as pictured by TRAINZ: