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| Thread ID: 101282 | 2009-07-08 05:31:00 | 50hz / 60hz question | Tony (4941) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 790027 | 2009-07-08 12:31:00 | Ooh, now hang on. Is the controller wireless (ie, radio controlled), or does it control the train via the tracks? I'm thinking that possibly the controller modulates data onto the AC power on the rails which the train decodes, which would explain the unreliability at 50Hz. So do you know how the control system works? Is it AC or DC on the tracks? |
george12 (7) | ||
| 790028 | 2009-07-08 18:41:00 | It controls the train via the tracks. Whether the track power is AC or DC I don't know. I suspect it is AC, as there is a warning in the oweners handbook about running the system on DC, saying "it will damage the sensitive electronics" or something to that effect. | Tony (4941) | ||
| 790029 | 2009-07-09 04:06:00 | Got a friend in Mexico with some HO-gauge trains he bought in the US and Mexico is 50-cycle and the US is 60, but he has no troubles at all with his system and it is very sophisticated. Must be some other dynamic going on here methinks. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 790030 | 2009-07-09 04:44:00 | Must be some other dynamic going on here methinks.Wouldn't surprise me in the least. The gear I'm talking about is O-gauge, but I can't see that making any difference. | Tony (4941) | ||
| 790031 | 2009-07-09 11:05:00 | It controls the train via the tracks. Whether the track power is AC or DC I don't know. I suspect it is AC, as there is a warning in the oweners handbook about running the system on DC, saying "it will damage the sensitive electronics" or something to that effect. Now we are getting somewhere. From what you say, it is bound to be ac on the tracks, but you can confirm that easily enough if you must because a label at the output of the controller, or the spec in the handbook should tell you. Speed control would be by slicing and dicing the ac just like the smps in your computer, and 50 cycles simply may not agree with the electronics, especially since it has to carry the control signals as well as power the train and the special effects. The control signals should be inserted at the zero crossing point, so it may not like the frequency change because now they will be coming too slowly and widely spaced, either that or surfing up and down the 60 Hz. Yanks are well known for doing things differently, for a start they can't spell, and they've mangled the language, then they go into hysterics when a paedophile (yeah, that's how you spell it SJ, it is from the latin, and I don't mean south of the border) does the world a favour and tops himself before his royal whiteness was reduced to swimming in bleach. But I digress. So, there may very well be a link between the supply frequency and your erratic functions, but you'd have to ask the manufacturer for their opinion so don't hold your breath, it is probably a state secret, either that or they will be in mourning for the Kink of Pop for the next few years and too whacked to reply, he liked trains too. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 790032 | 2009-07-09 11:16:00 | So assuming it is the frequency, that means we have to get an inverter from somewhere to change the frequency, if I understand the earlier posts. Where might I source something like that in NZ? | Tony (4941) | ||
| 790033 | 2009-07-09 11:50:00 | It could just be faulty DCC decoders | sammo450 (13626) | ||
| 790034 | 2009-07-09 12:22:00 | Two of them? ? | R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 790035 | 2009-07-09 13:23:00 | You might have to bite the bullet and buy an american inverter. The good news is one is on TradeMe! www.trademe.co.nz Feed 12V into that and you get american power out. It might just solve your problems. I would suggest trying to negotiate a better price on that one though as the demand here is probably non-existant. |
george12 (7) | ||
| 790036 | 2009-07-09 22:18:00 | Unless an inverter is built for pure sine wave output (most are probably not) then the dirty waveforms may possibly cause problems on such seemingly sensitive circuitry.... | seltsam (13470) | ||
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