After buying some mini LED light strings for decorating, I was left with a number of their "Try Me" circuits. These are comprised of a push "On" button wired to a battery case with three 1.5v LR44 batteries which is in turn wired to a connector. I am thinking that these things might be good for something in our modeling, yet, I have no idea what it would be.
Do any of you folks have some thoughts?
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If you find a use, I can send you some more. I thought they might be good for something but 2 years later they are still in a drawer.
I err on the side of throwing things away pretty quickly. If I figure out a use for it within 2 months I do a face plant, longer than that, eh,
The fairy lights are pretty useful for passenger car lighting. They can go along the ceiling or the floor and can be battery or rail operated (with the right components). Cheap too.
John
@Danr posted:If you find a use, I can send you some more. I thought they might be good for something but 2 years later they are still in a drawer.
Good one, Dan.
Reminds me of that day in 1970 when the boss plopped on my desk a model of a Rolamite, Mr. Donald F. Wilkes' (Sandia Laboratories) 'invention-of-the-century'. Said the boss: "Here, see what you can do with this in our product line!?" (automotive components). It became a desk-top amusement gizmo, was passed around, ended up back on my desk, gathered dust, disappeared for good one day...never spoken of or brought to mind thereafter, AFAIK. I'm not sure it even ended up finding application in our national nuclear armaments (Sandia's project area du jour). Not a very long list (
) of everyday items the rolamite principal ended up revolutionizing, either, per Google.
And so it goes...
@dkdkrd posted:Good one, Dan.
Reminds me of that day in 1970 when the boss plopped on my desk a model of a Rolamite, Mr. Donald F. Wilkes' (Sandia Laboratories) 'invention-of-the-century'. Said the boss: "Here, see what you can do with this in our product line!?" (automotive components). It became a desk-top amusement gizmo, was passed around, ended up back on my desk, gathered dust, disappeared for good one day...never spoken of or brought to mind thereafter, AFAIK. I'm not sure it even ended up finding application in our national nuclear armaments (Sandia's project area du jour). Not a very long list (
And so it goes...
It actually did, it was used as part of an accelerometer on nuclear warheads according to a video I saw.The Rolamite is basically an almost frictionless simple machine that could in theory replace bearings in some applications (that honestly I don't know where it would be applicable). I could see people in the auto and appliance industry turning white as a sheet, something with this kind of reduced friction would also likely mean a long life for the product using it. Bearing failure was a common component of planned obsolescence back in the day.
I added a battery pack connected to a " try me " button to power the interior lights of a repair shop/store....A model not yet installed on the layout. With multiple bulbs or LEDs in and around a structure the ability to fully light for full visual effect and walk away knowing the lights are killed is a small convenience. Diarama builders might also benefit, especially when the build is on public desplay.
Otherwise, I save them for that day which might never come.
Bruce
Well, at least I have a bunch of LR44 batteries!
Big Jim, here is a thought, why not cut the battery pack out and hook them to a buck converter that you can set at 4.5v to power some lights as Bruce stated.
That is an idea, but, I must admit that I have no idea what a "buck converter" is.
Hi Jim, when I get back from the Dr. I will look up where I got mine and send a photo for you!
Ok, thank you Mike.
Hi Jim, here is the buck converter I got off of e bay. It was $7.95 each, but the more you buy the lower the price it looks like.
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Here are a couple of pictures of them in use. I use one for my 4.5v led buildings and I use some at 10v for other accessories. They are really easy to use, power in one the LEFT side and power out on the RIGHT side. there is a small screw right above the copper coil you see in the photo, and you use that to dial in the power you want going out.
I have 5-6 on my layout because I use a lot of old phone and tablet power sources to power my accessories, as I can get those for next to nothing or even free.
Just for precaution I would check it with a voltmeter before hooking anything up.
Hi Jim, I sent you a PM.
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