pathvet9I assume that one must line up the magnets - on one side and + on the other??
I assume that one must line up the magnets - on one side and + on the other??
I do mine that way but don't really know how much of a difference it makes.
Also, if one uses 3 in a line in a yard, for example, what keeps the line from uncoupling as one is trying to build a manifest from that yard track?
The tension on the couplers from pulling or pushing the train keeps them coupled. Slack is needed to uncouple.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
Cowman,
SKU is 95421 07001. The manufacturer (distributor?) is Master Magnetics, Inc., Castle Rock, Co. 80104 www.magnetsource.com
Karl - thanks for the clarification on uncoupling at slack. As I have never tried it, the principle was a little obscure but makes sense.
On the other hand, I do not understand why it would not make a difference as to polarity of the magnets from one side of the track to the other. Wouldn't one side want to repel while the other attracts the coupling?
pathvet9 On the other hand, I do not understand why it would not make a difference as to polarity of the magnets from one side of the track to the other. Wouldn't one side want to repel while the other attracts the coupling?
For successful uncoupling when there is slack, the magnetic field runs across (or perpendicular to the rails) the track. This is set up by having a magnetic North pole near one rail, and a magnetic South pole near the other. The uncoupling wires are simply iron wires, and are not magnetized. They are drawn to the nearest magnetic pole, regardless of "polarity". This is why the uncoupling wires are skewed off center, and why centering the in-track magnets below the coupler centerline is so critical.
With the rare earth cylinder magnets, a much stronger field is created when all the N poles are adjacent to one rail, and all the S poles are adjacent to the other. But because of the intense fields of rare earth magnets and the non-polarization of the trip wires, such alignment may not be necessary for the magnets to work.
Final caution: the delayed uncoupling feature of Kadees/MT requires more consistency in coupler mounting and stronger magnetic fields than just straight uncoupling. The magnetic field has to pull the knuckle open against the spring (regular uncoupling) and then pull the coupler head to the side enough for the couplers to re-engage horn to knuckle so they won't recouple. See the diagrams on the Kadee web site for more details.
yours in magnetic couplers
Fred W