Not sure if anyone has asked this before...
I noticed that Digitrax, among other DCC manufacturers' components are not shielded from dust or layout making debris. I'm talking about the AR-1, PM-4, UP-5, as specific items because I have some of each.
I am currently making wood enclosures that are approx. 15" square and 3" thick. A slide panel of plexiglass will cover and protect the components for the immediate layout areas. These enclosures will be spaced about every 20'-30' around my layout, so they will sit fairly empty of DCC components, but steadily lose room because of signalling elecronics in a few years.
My question is that is this a recommended practise? I have never seen anything like this yet, but have seen people make portable cabinets for taking DCC to shows. Is it actually bad to get all the DCC boards dirty, and should I just wait until "the dust settles" before I start wiring things up?
Thanks in advance,
almo
why would you knowingly work and create a dusty enviroment with these items exposed to it all?. personally i'd have them stored out the way in a box, use compressed air to blow them clean before putting them safely away after the fact. as to general dust on things, ever taken apart a TV or VCR/DVD player? they end up extremely dusty inside and perform ok for years so i don't think 'normal' dust on these parts is going to be an issue, but you could always use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to 'dust' them once in a while if you so wish.
These items are not generally heat generating items but in an enclosed box they will heat up. The box should provide good air flow and now you are back to them being exposed to dust. You can add vents with air filters but I think you are worrying about a problem you don't have.
I don't know anyone that's had an issue with this. We have various electornic bits all over on our club modular layout and the modules sit in enclosed trailers between shows, not stored indoors in a controlled environment. My own PM42 sits on a shelf under my layout. Some dust accumulated while drilling holes for the bus wires, but it wasn;t like it was surrounded by a pile of sawdust. Never file or cut metal around electronics - or when doing something like filing the weight in a loco to make room for a decoder, strip it down first and remove the motor so the metal filings don;t get in there.
I wouldn;t bother with any more than maybe a simple dust shield, a square of acrylic or plexi with standoffs over the board so nothing can drop directly on it. Full enclosure isn't really necessary for this stuff.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Dust will not hurt them but heat will. Components generate heat. That is why your TVs, computers, and audio receivers warn you not to block the vents.
My electronic components are mounted on a board that is hinged at the top. When I need to work on them they swing down, otherwise they swing up under the layout and hang there face down. Dust doesn't settle UP very well.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
The only place you wouldn't want dust or debris to build up are in locations such as power supply and loconet sockets which would prevent proper contact. I built an enclosure for my clubs Super Chief that we take to shows. It is 8" X 8' X 14" and carries the 8 amp power supply, the command station, a PM42 and the UR91, several toggle switches and a 12 volt chassis fan from an old computor that blows across the heat sink on the command station. When it is in operation the back cover is left open and if necessary the fan is powered by a wall wart. Blowing dust off the components with compressed air occasionally wouldn't hurt..
Most components are immune to dust. If these were not the case, our computers would get all "wonky" (Have you ever opened a couple year old computer case?)
Wood is a poor conductor, so sawdust isn't an issue.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
DigitalGriffin Wood is a poor conductor, so sawdust isn't an issue.
Yes, but sawdust is an insulator, so if you bury the device by directing the output of your saw at it, it could overheat