Magnetic uncouplers and DCC boards?

[galaxy]

Hi guys

This may fall into the "dumb question" category.

Since magnets near a computer can have dangerous consequences, Is there any danger in using the magnetic "wands" for uncoupling (which admittedly don't work most of the time) or the under track magnetic uncouplers too close to DCC decoders?

TYIA

-G

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I have three magnetic uncoupler magnets on my layout and have no issues with decoders in relation to them.

[MisterBeasley]

I use both magnetic "ramp" uncouplers (Kadee between-the-rails type) and a Kadee electromagnetic uncoupler, and I've had no problems with them.  I don't have any of the "wands," but I don't think they'd be a problem, either.

[jackn2mpu]

The only time you MAY have a problem with a magnet near a computer is placing one right next to a floppy disk that's outside the drive. For a magnet to cause a problem with any electronics you'd need something with an extremely high field density, like an EMP pulse from a nuclear bomb, or the magnets used in a linear accelerator. The magnets in an uncoupling device (either track mounted like a Kadee or the Rix handheld wand) don't have that kind of strength.

[cacole]

Decoders are nearly always mounted in the top of a diesel locomotive and are too far away from the uncoupling magnets for them to have any effect.  I think that even a decoder mounted in the bottom of a steam engine tender is too far away to be reset by the uncoupling magnet, if that's what you're concerned about.

Very few decoders can be reset with a magnet.  My experience has been that the magnetic wand is usually too weak to reset a decoder and I have had to use a more powerful magnet.

[wedudler]

With QSI decoders you will hear a message running over a under the track magnet.

Wolfgang 

[Texas Zepher]

The only time you MAY have a problem with a magnet near a computer is placing one right next to a floppy disk that's outside the drive.

Computers & electronics proper don't have problems with low powered magnetic fields.  The issues is with computer storage media such as hard drives, diskettes and tapes which might be effected by them.

[pastorbob]

one more amen.  I have a large number of the Kadee magnets, have not lost any decoders that I know of.  The "magic wands" are kept far away from the locos and the railroad, have seldom ever used one,  I have a laptop that sits on a dispatch desk right beside the mainline, no problems there either.

Bob

[river_eagle]

if a decoder were sensitive to magnetic fields, the motor (armature with a magnet wrapped around it, huge magnetic fields compared to under track magnet) would scramble them long before an uncoupling magnet could take effect.

[BurbankAV]

The only time you MAY have a problem with a magnet near a computer is placing one right next to a floppy disk that's outside the drive.

Computers & electronics proper don't have problems with low powered magnetic fields.  The issues is with computer storage media such as hard drives, diskettes and tapes which might be effected by them.

I completely agree -- with one caveat: hard drives are safe from magnets.  (Ever open one up?  They've got great big magnets inside driving them...)  In fact, in our facility, we use magnets to attach outboard gear (like cameras and thermostats) to the front and rear of all our equipment racks -- and that's a few thousand processors and more petabytes of storage than we care to keep track of.  I wish we could just put this myth to rest once and for all... (maybe a call to Mythbusters...)

Peter