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Hi Cody...0.003" dia. nitinol wires. Put 0.3 Amps through them and they contract by 3-5%. You should be able to see them in the photos. In several locations I have *no* clearance below where I wanted to put the train order signals so I needed a design with a low profile beneath the track level that I could adjust at the work bench and drop in from above. There is a short demo video here http://flic.kr/p/eKPzY5And now there were 5...just finished the last working TO signal needed for Vanrail and installed it at Cascade. A Dispatcher in the adjacent room controls these signals - and the repeaters on the fascia - via Panelpro/JMRI when he wishes to pass orders to the crews.Now to restage, clean up, and maybe a bit more scenery...md
Interesting. Where does one get nitinol wire? It is just the solution I've been looking for. Is the spring-return necessary or does simply cutting off the current cause the wire to go back to its original length?-Cody F.
Frank - your renderings do not show it, but Baldwin Centipedes are tapered at both ends. Just a heads up..http://www.trainweb.org/seaboard/CENTIPEDE/CentipedeCarbodyUnderside.jpg
Jim: How well does an 800 run on the IRM's lower voltage? Not that it matters, as I doubt that they're going for either speed or tractive effort, but just curious.
... IRM has one issue with heavy electrics, and that's the pantographs ...