That sounds like more fun! I think you will really enjoy the benchwork part anyway, but it goes pretty quick.
Folks,
In case you didn't get an email, the buffers are ready to be shipped. Check your email and SPAM filters, and note that I sent a second message to correct bad math in my first message! 
It's been a long road, but I see the station just ahead, we're through the tunnel with the mystery light up ahead! 
For folks that would like a machine readable copy of the "final" documentation, here's a copy.
Attachments
Nice documentation! You do a real nice job of putting those all together, and color pics too!! (Got email, final pmt coming today, here in a bit)
Hi John. Just sent the balance payment to you.
Pat,
Thanks, however you missed the shipping.
Insured shipping charges in addition to the $90 remaining balance are as follows:
(1) Buffer, $12 - Total $102
(2) Buffers, $20 - Total $200
(3) Buffers, $20 - Total $290
(4) Buffers, $25 - Total $385
Hi John: Thanks for the buffer, I installed it on my 25'x50' 2 levels layout with 800' of GarGraves track, I run my K-line, 3rd Rail, TMCC, Legacy, Vision Line locomotives and they run flawlessly on both levels, going thru two home made aluminum bridges 4' long, no issues at all; the two LED's are On, one is blue and the other one is solid green all the time; thank you Manco (REP) and you, GOOD IMPROVEMENT, just awesome.
Churu posted:Hi John: Thanks for the buffer, I installed it on my 25'x50' 2 levels layout with 800' of GarGraves track, I run my K-line, 3rd Rail, TMCC, Legacy, Vision Line locomotives and they run flawlessly on both levels, going thru two home made aluminum bridges 4' long, no issues at all; the two LED's are On, one is blue and the other one is solid green all the time; thank you Manco (REP) and you, GOOD IMPROVEMENT, just awesome.
Churu: That's the news we like to hear. Thanks, cannot wait until I get mine. Ain't it GREAT !!!!
Success stories, that's the only kind we want to hear!
Seriously, that's great to hear, I'm happy they're doing the intended job. I'm busy prepping labels to ship 40 more, hopefully they go out today.
I was thinking to print the schematic and keep it with the the instructions. But I can’t find it, on the forum. Anyone have the link?
Yes folks, they're really being shipped! These will be going out today.
Attachments
Here's the latest schematic. I decided not to print 100 copies of the schematic for the shipments as it's easily obtained, and a vast majority of folks will have no use for it.
Attachments
Excellent, thank you.
Just got a notice that mine is in the mail.
Dropped a bunch of boxes off at the USPS, so a few folks should get some notices. I'm packing some more this afternoon, those will probably go out tomorrow.
MartyE posted:cjack posted:I was thinking to print the schematic and keep it with the the instructions. But I can’t find it, on the forum. Anyone have the link?
Like this? This version still had the schematic. John will have to verify if it is still up to date as I see he posted a newer document.
Thanks Marty, note that the schematic from GRJ is the later one with the caps across the opamp power pins. But much appreciated! I'm saving both with the instructions.
cjack posted:MartyE posted:cjack posted:I was thinking to print the schematic and keep it with the the instructions. But I can’t find it, on the forum. Anyone have the link?
Like this? This version still had the schematic. John will have to verify if it is still up to date as I see he posted a newer document.
Thanks Marty, note that the schematic from GRJ is the later one with the caps across the opamp power pins. But much appreciated! I'm saving both with the instructions.
Cool. Wasn't sure if it was up to date. Glad he posted. I'll delete mine so as to not to confuse anyone.
Hay GRJ,
Will get payment out this weekend to you, for $102.
Steam Forever
John
Just received my buffer today, Great work John.
I hooked it up and found out my Legacy base was bad, only .080 volts base input and 0.100 base output red led. and then hooked up to my cab Legacy and read a 1.140 volts base input and 3.916 volts base output no light on signal level,measured with fluke 87 meter. It look like my legacy is dead.
Thanks John. Received the Booster today. . I'll connect it this week. Great job!
I received an email notice that I will be getting a package from John Will, Thank you John.
Ray
A bunch of them are sitting on the porch for pickup, but they USPS has been somewhat unreliable lately at picking up. If they don't get them today, I'll drop them at the PO on Tuesday.
75 have been shipped, I'll be shipping the remainder this week. Of course, there are a handful of people that haven't yet paid the balance, those will rest in the "completed buffers" box for now.
John
thanks again. Mine came yesterday.
gunrunnerjohn posted:A bunch of them are sitting on the porch for pickup, but they USPS has been somewhat unreliable lately at picking up. If they don't get them today, I'll drop them at the PO on Tuesday.
75 have been shipped, I'll be shipping the remainder this week. Of course, there are a handful of people that haven't yet paid the balance, those will rest in the "completed buffers" box for now.
It's somewhat reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who has been the victim of USPS unreliability. I was told in email that not 1, not 2, but 3 packages were left on my porch 2 days ago and they were not there when I got home! Who knows if my booster will even show up this week??!!??
Greg
Jprails posted:Just received my buffer today, Great work John.
I hooked it up and found out my Legacy base was bad, only .080 volts base input and 0.100 base output red led. and then hooked up to my cab Legacy and read a 1.140 volts base input and 3.916 volts base output no light on signal level,measured with fluke 87 meter. It look like my legacy is dead.
The thing to do is measure the base signal at the measurement ports on the buffer. Remember, the measurements are just a rough guide as converting the 455khz to DC incurs a lot of losses, specifically the diode drops make the lower level signals look worse than they are. I made readings on a known good Legacy base that was outputting around 5.4 volts of signal, those are what I put in the document. I also tried to make clear that this is not an absolute reading, and can vary from buffer to buffer based on component tolerances. There is no calibration of this value, it's really intended to be able to track the performance of an individual command base and buffer over time.
That being said, my experience does suggest that 1.140 volts measured here is probably low for a Legacy command base.
Attachments
gunrunnerjohn posted:A bunch of them are sitting on the porch for pickup, but they USPS has been somewhat unreliable lately at picking up. If they don't get them today, I'll drop them at the PO on Tuesday.
75 have been shipped, I'll be shipping the remainder this week. Of course, there are a handful of people that haven't yet paid the balance, those will rest in the "completed buffers" box for now.
You should get extra credit for just being able to keep track of all those things and who, where, when, etc. to send them to! 
John,
If any with unpaid balance are unclaimed I will buy one .
Thanks,
john balance just paid thanx herb
rtr12 posted:You should get extra credit for just being able to keep track of all those things and who, where, when, etc. to send them to!
Who says they're going to the right people??? 
Christmas came early for me today, fished this out of the mailbox. Cannot wait to install this Buffer Kit. Thanks John
Attachments
Images (1)
I got mine up and running and really making a difference thank you
It's pretty complicated Roger, connect the power and three leads. Oh, you do have to put the tether between the command base and the command base power supply to tap off the earth ground, that's one of the three wires.
I measured the voltage at the buffer.The Cab-1L legacy is the one that works on my layout with the buffer and I have seen an improvement in operation so far it good even with the 1.140 voltage. The legacy is not working at all I guess I will have to send it back again unless it can be fix by someone else. Thanks again for the help in getting my RR running again.
John,
Got mine this morning will hook up this week. Will let you know how it works, from the posts of others I am sure it will. You have done an incredible service for all of us.
Thanks,
Marty
Jprails posted:I measured the voltage at the buffer.The Cab-1L legacy is the one that works on my layout with the buffer and I have seen an improvement in operation so far it good even with the 1.140 voltage. The legacy is not working at all I guess I will have to send it back again unless it can be fix by someone else. Thanks again for the help in getting my RR running again.
Since the buffer drops the impedance and also boosts the P-P voltage, it'll make even a bad base work much better. Send the Legacy back to Lionel, they have all the parts and expertise to get it working again.
Are you measuring AC voltage right out of the command base or what? The voltages I speak of are on the buffer measurement terminals.
martind posted:John,
Got mine this morning will hook up this week. Will let you know how it works, from the posts of others I am sure it will. You have done an incredible service for all of us.
Thanks,
Marty
Thanks Marty. They worked when they left, and they're not all that shock prone, so I have high hopes that they'll work when they get there!
Mine came today. Thank you very much...
Currently, everyone that's paid up is either shipped, or sitting on the table behind me with shipping labels attached and waiting for the next mailing day, that should be Tuesday. I send out an email (or rather USPS does) when I create the label. That being the case, you're paid up, you should have either received it or gotten a notice that yours is shipping. If you haven't gotten either, and you think you're paid up, please contact me and we'll sort it out. I think my accounting is pretty good, but mistakes happen.
John, I received my automated shipping notice about 20 minutes ago. Thank you, your accounting works!
gunrunnerjohn posted:Currently, everyone that's paid up is either shipped, or sitting on the table behind me with shipping labels attached and waiting for the next mailing day, that should be Tuesday. I send out an email (or rather USPS does) when I create the label. That being the case, you're paid up, you should have either received it or gotten a notice that yours is shipping. If you haven't gotten either, and you think you're paid up, please contact me and we'll sort it out. I think my accounting is pretty good, but mistakes happen.
John I paid for two early this week and have received no notification
Greg Stack
Don't know why Greg, it was generated yesterday and the USPS has the package.
