Powering Caboose Markers

[usairman737]

What's the easiest way to power caboose markers in Sn3?  I know the OMI bobbers are already overweight.  I just want some markers w/o sound car or anything that fancy.  A DCC decoder with stay-alive seems like overkill - - and more weight.  Gerry

[Derrell Poole]

Without DCC or some means of constant power to the track your lamps are dependent either on an onboard battery or the variable voltage to the track from your DC throttle. A battery is going to add the weight you don't want. Some sort of constant lighting circuit with low voltage bulbs then becomes the next best thing I'm aware of. The lamp will light when enough power is realized in the circuit - even perhaps below the start voltage of the engine. But no matter how much power is applied to the track above what is required to light the lamp the lamp will not receive more voltage than is required. Talk to Randy Lee at Grizzly Mountain engineering.

[usairman737]

I didn't realize that you could use an old-fashioned constant voltage unit with DCC.  Gerry

[Todd A Ferguson]

Are you looking for DCC lighting?

If so you can add a simpler function decoder that will allow you to turn on and off the lights. Marker lights, interior lights, brakeman with lantern on the back platform, etc.  The weight is next to nothing given the capability it adds.  

If you want to go simple with DCC you can simply put the LEDs with the appropriate resistor between the two rails. This is the same as a Power on The Track indicator that are used to show the DCC power is going to the track.  This method can be used to light train lights and even other lights on signals or in buildings, whatever.  The thing is it is pulling power, amperage to be precise, off you track power supply. Not a big deal,with LEDs though.  The downside is that if you turn off the track power on the layout, or that section of the track the lights go out.

For DC power you can go to capacitors with voltage limiting diodes which have been used since the early 1970s.  There are likely still some commercial boards available to do,this with DC power.  

Several resources to be aware of are www.ngineering.com and Laurie Greene's postings on several Yahoo narrow minded groups and a book he created in conjunction with Tim Mulina.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

[Derrell Poole]

Gerry, please re-read my post. I did not say constant voltage units can be used with DCC.

[usairman737]

Thanks, Todd, I have a couple old, outdated DCC motor decoders that should work.  Space should not be a problem as there will be no interior detailing.  

Gerry

[Todd A Ferguson]

Although you can use the diode dropping to have constant voltage for function outputs on DCC decoders. To many though it may seem like adding extra components that require space for a small benefit in many cases.

Best,

Todd Ferguson

Harrisburg, NC 

On Feb 12, 2015, at 9:30 PM, "Derrell Poole [via C&Sn3 Discussion Forum]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Gerry, please re-read my post. I did not say constant voltage units can be used with DCC.

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[Todd A Ferguson]

Gerry,

Sounds great!  If you have any questions just ask...

Best,

Todd Ferguson

Harrisburg, NC

On Feb 12, 2015, at 9:56 PM, "usairman737 [via C&Sn3 Discussion Forum]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Thanks, Todd, I have a couple old, outdated DCC motor decoders that should work.  Space should not be a problem as there will be no interior detailing.  

Gerry

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[Derrell Poole]

You can also use a voltage regulator devices such as 2n3055 (iirc) to control the voltage to a 1.5v lamp.

[Jim Courtney]

Derrell,

Thanks for posting all these short "how-to" articles.  All are very useful and timely for me as I open all the green Overland boxes and get back to modeling C&Sn3.  They prevent each of us from having to re-invent the wheel, so-to-speak.

[Derrell Poole]

Thanks Jim. I appreciate hearing that I am help to others.