DCC in a Hot Environment

[Anonymous]

Hello, I wonder if anyone has any experience which might illuminate my situation.? I have a Lenz Set 02, very new, upgrade of an older Lenz system. I have a new LH 100 and a new LH90. The layout is in an un airconditioned attic, daytime temperatures up to 120 degrees F. I try to stay out of there in the summertime. in the daytime, but sometimes the temperature is not too bad. A locomotive with an older Lenz decoder seems to run OK with the LH 100, but behaviour is bizzarre with the LH90 when ambient temps are hot, the loco will take off at full speed with no controlling it other than full stop, also super non-linear throttle behaviour, but seems ok in evening when cooler. Am I the only one to whom this has happened?

Thanks for any help, other than advice to air condition attic.

SoFan

[rrinker]

If you have the manuals, it might list it, if not try the Lenz web site. Usually there are specifications for electronic equipment as tot he maximum and minimum temperatures and humidity for both storage and operation (storage is a wider range). So that 120 degrees may be fine as long as you don't turn it on, although that is probably near or at the upper limit. You might not need ac, a power vent fan may be enough to keep the temperature tolerable for less expense than air conditioning.
At any rate, if it's 90-100 up there when you actually DO run the equipment, it is likely just overheating. Enough overstressing will lead to permanent component failure. I would cool it down ASAP. A radical idea would be to locate the command station and any boosters just below the attic in a cooler area of the house and just runt he power bus and control bus int the attic, keeping the equipment cool but the trains and plug in locations for the handheld in the attic.

--Randy

[tstage]

SoFan,

First of all, welcome to the forum! [:)]

Any layout subjected to that high of a temperature cannot be good for the layout, wiring, electronics, or you name it. Is there anyway you can move your layout to a different location - somewhere where your locmotives and equipment won't undergo such stress and harsh conditions? The lubricants in the locomotive's gears alone will undergo a significant reduction in life, dry out, and probably become tar before long.

Tom

[Medina1128]

Unless you can easily build ductwork to tie into you central A/C into your attic, I would opt for a window unit. I'd install a heavy switch so that you could turn it on from below just before going up to run trains. NO electronic equipment is meant to survive in that kind of environment. RRinker brings up an interesting point in remote isolation of the command module, but the rest of your equipment and YOU will not like the heat. When i was younger, I remember playing football in that kind of heat. But, now that I'm older, I don't even like to go to check the mail when it's that hot.

[ereimer]

a small window air conditioner isn't expensive, certainly no more than a high end steam engine with DCC and sound , although in an attic you might have to get creative with the installation (no windows i presume) [:)]

[Anonymous]

As we say in the South, thank you kindly for these responses. It looks like, in summary, no one who has yet responded has direct experience with the wacky phenonema I observe, but also no one thinks having a layout in a (sometimes) 120 deg F environment is other than a bad idea. In answer to some questions, (1) this is about the only place I can have a layout of any size, for now, (2) I have air conditioning ducts up there but no ceiling insulation, so would have to do that, (3) air conditioning the major electronics is a possibility. Last question - If I just leave the place alone in very hot weather, will any damage be done, either to electronic components or to locomotives, e.g., seeping lubricant in gearboxes? Thanks again. SoFan[

[cacole]

Our local HO scale club is in a non air-conditioned building -- no heat in the wintertime except from portable propane heaters that are in use only when someone is at the club; and evaporative coolers that run only in the summertime when some is there.

Automatic digitally-controlled crossing gates and our DCC LAN act up with variances in temperature and humidity throughout the year. Any electronics device with integrated circuits, which is just about everything made today, is affected by temperature.

[Anonymous]

Cacole - "Automatic digitally-controlled crossing gates and our DCC LAN act up with variances in temperature and humidity throughout the year." This is the information I was seeking. Thank you very much for sharing this, and thanks to all who responded. SoFan

[claycts]

PLease note:
My office computer room (MIS) which is in my basement so I can maintain it goes APE when the temperature gets to high. ALL electronics will get (CONDENSATION) on the connections as the temp swings. The heat that is generated by the unite it self will cause water droplets to cause funny things to happen. The sweat from your hand gets inside the unit and it wil cause a bad reaction. I wipped out a $525.00 Digital sclae that was in the MIS room (68 deg +/= 2 deg at 50 to 60% humidty MAX) brought it up to the 2nd floor which had the windows open and 85 deg outside, condensation and good bye circuit board.. I would get some sort of temp control. This is just my $.02

[HAZMAT9]

Don't know how much headspace you have in your attic but an inexpensive wall air-conditioning unit may help. Most units run on 110V ac and you can pick them up for a few hundred bucks. I plan on installing one in my garage when I get around to it. The units are similiar to the ones' seen in motel rooms. You'll have to cut an opening but they fit pretty nice, if enything, you can consider it an added upgrade to your house if you decide to move one day. Steve