Anyone build there own electronics. While trying to find a fix to a problem I am having I received this link with some useful at home electronics. I was interested in the Capacitor Discharge unit and the Crossing Diamond Protection circuit. These diagrams might as well be in Latin. I went to radio shack to familiarize myself with some electronic parts and they look cheap. I am interest to know if anyone can shed some light on the subjuct. Pictures would help. http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#17
Claudio, I can point you to all kinds of electronics info, parts sources, text books, online tutorials, circuits, design theory, etc., if you can be a little more specific about what you are looking for.
Those are all very basic circuits, however I would suggest you get a book on 'Basic Electronics' Something that will also include a few practical hands-on lessons and things. It is not something that you will learn on a forums site like this. Not to suggest that nobody here could teach you, but rather, it will take several weeks or perhaps months to get an understanding of basic circuit designs and theory.
I am interested in the Capacitor Discharge unit and the Crossing Diamond Protection circuit. The reason for these is that I am having switch problems and I have a criss cross section on my layout where I would like the trains to stop for each other. I read some threads that state these books have the Capacitor Discharge unit: - KALMBACH Electronic's for Model Railroader books, by Peter Thorne - Practical Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders, by Kalmbach [ March 14, 2006, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: cripp12 ]
This site is pretty easy to follow on the turnout control. http://www.awrr.com/cdsupply.html They are pretty basic and a good project for a beginner in electronics. Paisley's crossing protection circuit is ok, but is more difficult and requires tweeking to get the operation just right, and is not really very good for a first project. They major problem with them is they don't slow the train down, the stop it dead. If you are pulling many cars and are moving at any speed this leads to major derails. This is not quite so bad with modern flywheel locos, but non flywheel types stop like you put a brick in front of them.
