Wiring Resistor

My guess is that it goes between the power source and the center rail. I would use a diode voltage dropper instead of a resistor. Explained here.

http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowThread?id=413&categoryId=426

Dale H

The purpose of the resistor is to keep enough power on the locomotive for the TMCC electronics don't reset, but not enough to allow the locomotive to move. 

I'm thinking this is a hit-or-miss situation, since some locomotives with can motors and a light load would probably move on voltages that won't keep the TMCC electronics running.

I don't know that diodes solve the above named problem, AAMOF, I don't know of a sure-fire solution to that situation.

In a previous layout that I had I put a 50W (I think 10 ohm - I need to check on that) rheostat permanently connected between the center rail of the previous block and the center rail of the stop block. I had the rheostat at my control panel in case I needed to fine tune the resistance. This allowed me flexibility whether I ran conventional (lower voltage) or command mode and also allowed for the ability to adjust to individual motor characteristics. In reality I did not do hardly any adjustments as I am pretty sure that I found a sweet spot that worked in almost all conditions. (sorry I don't remember better. That was 5 years ago and I have dropped a few brain cells in my old age )

Cheers

Denny

"I don't know that diodes solve the above named problem, AAMOF, I don't know of a sure-fire solution to that situation."

There are solutions. One is a TMCC station stop circuit that I have. But you can only enter 1 engine number. Another is the RFID stop circuit for TMCC. With this circuit you place an RFID tag (about the size of a nickel) on the engine. Each engine has it's own unique tag so every engine will come to a stop at the open bridge. Engine control is not done with power but by the circuit sending TMCC commands to stop and then resume when the bridge comes down. I use it with signals.

ps- can also have horn/whistle blow correct sequence when stopping/starting.

Gary, it's nice that you have custom circuits for this stuff, but not everyone is equipped to do that.  I get the feeling you're just trying to show us how smart you are, rather than offering solutions that anyone here could benefit from.

Amen, nice that there are alternatives but not everyone has the electrical savy, material or time to do this.

Couldn't the same argument be made for a lot of the discussions that occur on this forum? I for one have to go translate and lookup a lot of the terminology that is used on this forum. A lot of the solutions posed here are not possible for me because I do not understand how to implement them. I am learning though and hope to get involved in some degree of formal training to understand the basics.

I have learned a lot and taken numerous notes from various posts. I think Gary's idea is brilliant. The likelihood that anyone will implement it is very small.

One of the main reasons I enjoy these forums is to see how different people view the same things and find new ways to control or operate them. That is amazing!

Not trying to start a war

BTW, I do not know Gary and have reason to endorse him other than enjoying his creative idea.

Presumably the OP got his wiring question answered. 

So this being a discussion forum, what are the alternatives to the resistor/diode-drop method and those using a command system like the RFID method proposed earlier?

For example, if bridge-up activated some locally-generated signal on the stop block, the engine could detect it and disconnect the motor with a relay (while voltage remains on the track to run the electronics).  In other words, it would be like horn/whistle modules that detect DC on the track except it detects something else and disconnects the motor.  Yes, this means every engine must be modified (an understandable limitation) but it would work for conventional and not require (but still work with) command systems.

So what does all this mean? Ideas sould be suppressed here because they don't meet someones definition of ideological purity or because others don't have the brains or resources to implement them? Give me a break!

Bob Di Stefano

On this forum it is very easy for the discussion to outrun the expertise of many very fast. It can be hard to remember that many may have no idea of the difference between resistors, capacitors, diodes, or why lamps and LED's are different things. Yes it may be a little show-offish for someone to talk about some special circuit he/she has developed to do something but if they are willing to explain it maybe we will learn something. I believe the important thing to remember is that those of us that know are supposed to be trying to help those that don't know and have no idea of the significance of the equation E=IR. Some times it is very difficult to keep things simple enough to be understood.

"When you are up to your ars in alligators it can be hard to remember your original intent was to drain the swamp."

Al

It seems to me that I heard something that Lionel was working on something that involved an inferred emitter under the engine and a receptor track that would work with the legacy system some way to accomplish things. Don't know any details but it is in the works for the future. The HO guys used to do great things with a magnet on the engine or cars and a reed switch in the track.

Al

Who would want to explain anything when they get blown away just for submitting the idea?

So you advocate just jumping in on any thread and posting random thoughts?  Whatever floats your boat.

Wouldn't it be a better idea to actually start a thread for just that topic, since it didn't really come close to addressing the OP issue? 

I have no problem with discussing advanced concepts, just not when it's obvious that won't be a solution to the issue at hand.  It would be even neater if the wherewithal to actually accomplish it for others is going to be shared.

You and I resonate on the same wavelengths, John

By the way I did start a new thread about using UV as ITAD device.