S Scalers:
I am using the Zimo DCC system. When trying to take advantage of its ability to feedback the position of turnouts I have ventured into the Land of Ignorance. Perhaps those more familiar with electrons can help me out. Here is the problem. I am using Hankscraft turnout motors installed in Rix Rax II brackets. The Hankscraft motor is rated for 3 volts and supposedly draws less than 10 mA; I am bringing 12-14 volts. So I need a resistor -- and a 1200 ohm resistor comes with the motor. That works fine but the voltage drop over the motor is 5.5 volts. That's nearly double what's called for so I figure I need more resistance in the circuit. So in my bench testing, I changed out the 1200, and replaced it with a 1000 ohm resistor, a 330 ohm resistor, and a diode I bought from Radio Shack (1N914/4148-Type Diode, described as popular silicon switching diode rated at 75V & 450 mA)all in series. Now the motor does not turn -- all the voltage is dissipated over the two resistors and the diode -- I might as well have replaced the motor with a wire. [My application requires a diode.] I am driving the test circuit with a Radio Shack 12 volt DC 500 mA wall-mount transformer. I also have a 12v, 1 amp DC transformer that delivers the same (non)results. And I have the diode hooked up in the right direction. I must confess I don't understand what is going on. Why would adding more resistance to the circuit knock out the motor? Am I using the correct diode? It's just in there to regulate direction of current flow. Any assistance would be swell. Hilary Smith Northern Virginia The poll results are in....... To REPLY to the list, use REPLY ALL, to reply to the sender, use REPLY. I do NOT know if this works on all e-mail software, but it works on some of the most common ones. For those of you on DIGEST mode, all REPLY messages go to the list. Change your membership, change your message settings, use our CALENDAR, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
