Gorgeous artwork. Very impressive.
CG
Thanks for the compliments guys.
I finished the art for all of the panels on the upper deck. Now to get busy actually building them!
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-ii/
Here is panel 11 of 14:
Alan
Freelancing the LK&O Railroad
Did some testing this evening with LED colors. Turns out the orange LEDs I planned to use for the turntable are not distinct enough from the red to suit my tastes. Changed the turntable LED color to pink (purple pink). Much better LED color contrast to the red LEDs.
Also added additional track power controls to the service tracks.
That really looks awesome!
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
Work continues on the control panels. Resolving engineering challenges one at a time.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-iii/
Adobe Illustrator
The first pancake is always a throw away, right?
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-iv/
Really nice work Alan!
By the way, I have never thrown away the first pancake! I would consider myself to be a 'pancake failure' if I had to do that! I do remember some pancakes that I was served in the Enlisted Men's Mess at CFB Trenton when I was an Air Cadet. When you cut them in half they flowed right back together! Yuk! Talk about stomach ache material. Those should have been tossed!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Step-by-step build of control panel faces
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-v/
Made the link clickable.
I may have missed something, but what purpose does the back panel serve? Is it just reinforcement?
Holds the LEDs in place. Otherwise they could be accidently pushed out if someone were to place an errant finger on one.
Making wood enclosures for the control panels:
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-vi/
lifeontheranch Adobe Illustrator
Ah, that is not a cheap software package - I check and prices seem to range from approx $440 to over a a grand. Not in the budget for some of us.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Illustrator is primarily for professional users hence the price tag. Generally used in conjunction with the entire Adobe Creative Suite (CS or CC). I believe MRR uses Illustrator for the track plan illustrations. I use Adobe CS in my day job. There are other vector art drawing programs available that would do a fine job on something as simple as a control panel. Inkscape comes to mind. It is free open source.
More progress on control panels. Assembling enclosures.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-vii/
16 panel enclosures finished.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-viii/
hon30critter When you cut them in half they flowed right back together! Yuk! Talk about stomach ache material.
Self-healing pancakes! So, that's where the idea of the puncture-proof tires came from!
Excellent work here, Alan! Thank you for taking the time to share your progress...
Regards, Ed
Control panel work continues. Got the first two finished. Lots of soldering on the inside.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-ix/
Hi Alan:
Impressive work!
Question: On the circuit boards that are lined up along the inside bottom of the control panel, I think I am seeing a diode beside each resistor. I'm guessing that the resistors are there to limit the current going to the LEDs, but what purpose do the diodes serve, if indeed they are diodes?
Also, did you make those circuit boards? If not, can you tell us your source?
Thanks
They prevent reverse bias of the LEDs.
Hi again Alan:
lifeontheranchThey prevent reverse bias of the LEDs.
So in other words you are protecting the LEDs from reverse polarity instead of just letting them do it on their own?
I edited my previous post while you were answering. Where did you get the circuit boards?
I don't recall seeing a schematic for the panels (checked the 9 parts of Control Panel), but how would they even get reverse biased unless you hooked up the panel backwards?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
hon30critter So in other words you are protecting the LEDs from reverse polarity instead of just letting them do it on their own? I edited my previous post while you were answering. Where did you get the circuit boards? Dave
Yes. The LED reverse breakdown voltage is 5 volts. The panels are 12v.
I made the circuit boards. Described midway in this post: http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-vii/
rrinker I don't recall seeing a schematic for the panels (checked the 9 parts of Control Panel), but how would they even get reverse biased unless you hooked up the panel backwards? --Randy
For each turnout there are two LEDs (red & green or yellow & green) that are wired reverse parallel - DIY bi-color arrangement. One LED of each pair is reverse biased at any given time.
The panel LEDs, diodes, and resistors replace the bi-color LED shown in this schematic:
Originally, I put a single LED current limiting resistor on the Tortoise board intending to use bi-color LEDs in the panels. During the time between building Tortoise boards and building control panels I changed to two individual LEDs for each turnout. Additional resistance was added to greatly lower the LED brightness level.
Changed the thread title since the content has veered far from the original.
Two individual LEDs back to back is the same as the bicolor LED, the reversed biased LED would see no more than the forward voltage of the forward biased one, so like 2.5 volts. They could still have individual resistors to equalize the brightness.
Frankly I'd just put them in series with the Tortoise motor unless using the Tortoise contacts to control them, that way there is a positive indication that the Tortoise has moved. Paralleling the Tortoise means added current through the flip-flop, plus the light changes before the Tortoise even moves. Series witht he motor, the light would change immediately to the new indication, but dimly, until the Tortoise completed movement.
rrinker ... the reversed biased LED would see no more than the forward voltage of the forward biased one, so like 2.5 volts...
... the reversed biased LED would see no more than the forward voltage of the forward biased one, so like 2.5 volts...
Except if one LED fails. Plus, I had to put in a jumper on the board anyway. The diode is a jumper with an added feature. 1N4148 cost less than 1/2 cent each.
rrinker ... in series with the Tortoise motor ...
... in series with the Tortoise motor ...
Some turnouts can be controlled from multiple panels. The number of LEDs for any given turnout varies. Resistor values would need calculated on a case-by-case basis to maintain uniform brightness between one, two, or more indicators. Changing out resistors would be required if a panel change occurred or another panel added. My panel wiring arrangement maintains uniform LED brightness regardless of how many panels an individual turnout may appear on.
rrinker ...plus the light changes before the Tortoise even moves. Series witht he motor, the light would change immediately to the new indication, but dimly, until the Tortoise completed movement.
...plus the light changes before the Tortoise even moves. Series witht he motor, the light would change immediately to the new indication, but dimly, until the Tortoise completed movement.
Yes, the panel indicators change immediately. Although I don't understand the importance of movement and indication timing. There are illuminated switch stands that indicate direction and completed throw. They are series wired with the Tortoise motor since there is only one switch stand per turnout.
lifeontheranchI made the circuit boards. Described midway in this post: http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-vii/
Excellent work, and a lot of it!
Thanks,
Making progress. 9 of 16 finished.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/control-panels-part-x/