Anyone remember the G&D and John's impact car? It was a boxcar with a large round metal ball inside that could be adjusted for sensitivity and if the car was handled roughly the ball rolled to the end and completed a circuit lighting a red light under the car simulating a hotbox. Typical of some of John Allen's take on the hobby.
Anyway, my question is can the Walthers version be used with DCC or would it shut down the layout? I managed to buy one of these old cars and would like to use it.
Thanks,
oldline1
Their ad says it includes a constant brightness circuit. That may not play well with DCC voltage.
1980_Impact by Edmund, on Flickr
A simple 1k resistor and LED would work in its place.
Good Luck, Ed
Probably just a simple diode circuit for constant light, it probably will be fine on DCC. Eventually the bulb will burn out, DC or DCC, in which case, removing it all and just using a resistor and LED - all it is is a switch where there are contacts in the roof at the ends, and the track the ball rests on is the othe terminal, and the steel ball completes the circuit through the light and the wheel pickups.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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