I just signed up to the forums today. I used to have a small train layout in my old home back in 1984. I moved and since retired and want to get back into the hobby. I built a transformer back then using a design from MR from a EE who worked for Philips electronics. I can't find my copy from that year, but the transformer had air brake simulation as good or better than store bought units I had from MRC, and Troller. It worked great! I like building electronic things.
Can anyone point me in the right direction to find electrical layouts for power packs for running HO scale trains?
regards HejhogMarty
Marty www.pbase.com/Hejhog
you tube/martyHejhog1
Welcome Back Marty,
What you are decribing sounds like the TAT IV throttle project published in Model Railroader many years ago. One of the problems trying to build these units us the lack of parts or substitution parts that are available. Motors have changed overthey years(draw much less current) and DCC has sort of taken over model train control field.
If you do a Google Search on 'TAT IV throttle', you will find lots of hits - Maybe some of the circuit diagrams.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
The TAT IV throttle Jim mentioned is featured in the March 1969 Model Railroader. As I recall there were a feww corrections listed in later editions. You may be able to get a copy of the issue from Kalmbach. I built one of these and used it for a while but I am glad that I am now using DCC. It has opened a lot of doors for me.
Joe
Welcome aboard, Marty!
I'm also a "returning" model railroader. I looked at DCC when I came back, and decided it was the way to go. I know I made the right decision.
It's not for everyone, of course, but I think you should take a serious look at it before investing time and dollars in anything else.
From your pictures, it looks like you've got some connection to the Boston area. There is a train show in Shirley, MA, on April 6th. Shows are a great way to see what's going on, both from what's available for sale and from looking at the operating layouts. Someone will be happy to show you a bit about DCC if you ask.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Our club some years ago built The Pacematic Throttle by Peter Thorne. Article in MRR magazine.
I modified mine using the 555 IC for PWM. A MPSA13 Darlington transistor and a 2N3055 power transistor.
Slapping a resistor across the 10K pot with a SPST switch gave me more range on the pot for switching speeds.
A 4 x 2 x 2 Mini box held everything. Fed with filtered 14 VDC.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I recall a transistor throttle circuit diagram in the February 1973 issue of Model Railroader. Don't know if it was by the author you are looking for or not.
If you look up at the top of this page you'll see in small print "resources". Hover your mouse cursor over this and a drop down will appear. In the drop down one of the choices will be "magazine index". Once you get to the index page you'll be able to search by topic within your choice of magazines.
In the interest of clarification (and not to be nit-picky), you probably want to be searching for "transistor throttle". I suspect what you built was not a "transformer", nor was it really a "power pack".
maxman In the drop down one of the choices will be "magazine index". Once you get to the index page you'll be able to search by topic within your choice of magazines.
Here are the search results from 1984 and earlier
http://trc.trains.com/Train%20Magazine%20Index.aspx?view=SearchResults&q=throttle&startYear=1932&endYear=1984&magazineId=0&advanced=true
are you interested in just building, tinkering or designing?
A similar design today would probably use op-amps instead of transistors and wall warts instead of transformers
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
There is a more modern design of the TAT IV that used IC op amps and comparators, it was published in the 80's sometime, called the TAT V. The parts for that might actually still be available.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Welcome to the forums and back to model railroading.
If you like building electrical things, sounds like you might enjoy adding decoders and sound to locos. You can also operate turnouts (switches) and other things with decoders, as I understand it. My electrical knowledge is a little better than operating the on/off switch (if I can find it)., but I'm not ready to start teariing locos apart to add DCC operation and sound yet.
Good luck,
Richard
I built 3 of those back in the 80's and still have them. Everything I have now is Digitrax Radio Dcc, I turned the page and never looked back. I've had Dcc since 1998, and I have about 100 loco's and they are all Dcc equiped and about thirty or so have sound. You can't get any better control than Dcc, it's nice to follow your train and operate the turnouts and have the signals work and thats something the old transformers couldn't do. Look at the new Dcc stuff and maybe visit a hobby shop that has one set up or find a club that uses Dcc you just might change your mind. Jim.
HejhogMarty I just signed up to the forums today. I used to have a small train layout in my old home back in 1984. I moved and since retired and want to get back into the hobby. I built a transformer back then using a design from MR from a EE who worked for Philips electronics. I can't find my copy from that year, but the transformer had air brake simulation as good or better than store bought units I had from MRC, and Troller. It worked great! I like building electronic things. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find electrical layouts for power packs for running HO scale trains? regards HejhogMarty
Check your private message Marty, to access "Messages" look up on top of the right column
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Your welcome? .
sometimes I wonder why I bother...
Hi Marty,
I have a fairly good throttle design on my website www.xdford.digitalzones.com and I have made a series of drawings on building it within a box which I could send you. PM me if you would like to see them...
Regards from Australia
Trevor
Why not just buy one?