Resistance wheelsets

[Bill H]

Group;
FWIW this is a pretty good YouTube for Daryl Kruse's method of installing resistors on N scale wheelsets. I operated on his layout when he was in Georgia, and all of his fleet had at resistance wheelsets - to the best of my memory - and his block detection was excellent. It was always a pleasure to operate because the dispatcher had a good idea of the locations of trains on the layout.

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Kind regards,
Bill

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Group;
FWIW this is a pretty good YouTube for Daryl Kruse's method of installing resistors on N scale wheelsets. I operated on his layout when he was in Georgia, and all of his fleet had at resistance wheelsets - to the best of my memory - and his block detection was excellent. It was always a pleasure to operate because the dispatcher had a good idea of the locations of trains on the layout.

/>
Kind regards,
Bill

But he's a turncoat so must be shunned, right @davefoxx ?

(I'm kidding, in case the sarcasm is not apparent)

Thanks for the video!

[davefoxx]

But he's a turncoat so must be shunned, right @davefoxx ?

(I'm kidding, in case the sarcasm is not apparent)

Thanks for the video!

He was assimilated.  Yeah, we added his biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.  Sorry for any inconvenience.
 
Sincerely,
The HO Borg

[John]

He was assimilated.  Yeah, we added his biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.  Sorry for any inconvenience.
 
Sincerely,
The HO Borg

Yea .. but the process is the same for HO as N .. in fact, I would still use the smaller resistors in HO -- if possible to hide them

[C855B]

...we added his biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

I can just see the ST writers adding this to the script.   

[trainzluvr]

I can just see the ST writers adding this to the script.   

Only after the Borg have come to the Earth and took it over, because nobody else is as apologetic as the Earthlings.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So I just did a few cabooses with my resistors and conductive paint.

Pretty damn easy.

Use a little CA on the back of the resistors, stick it to the axle, and two dabs of paint.

Just make sure you put the resistors on where they won't interfere with any underbody stuff.

It was very gratifying sitting the car on the track and seeing the CTC panel light up.

[C855B]

Cool.

[Bill H]

So I just did a few cabooses with my resistors and conductive paint.

Pretty damn easy.

Use a little CA on the back of the resistors, stick it to the axle, and two dabs of paint.

Just make sure you put the resistors on where they won't interfere with any underbody stuff.

It was very gratifying sitting the car on the track and seeing the CTC panel light up.

Ed:
Sounds like a plan. As Daryl noted, putting the resistor on an inner wheelset at least avoids a conflict with the coupler boxes. Thanks for the update.
Kind regards,
Bill

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is what victory looks like, gents.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[C855B]

[John]

This is what victory looks like, gents.

(Attachment Link)

I recmd you also add a little weight to the cabeeses to help out .. I found that when I have a train in a siding thats stopped, and I start the panel, there is a 50/50 chance the detection won't pick up the stationary vehicle

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I recmd you also add a little weight to the cabeeses to help out .. I found that when I have a train in a siding thats stopped, and I start the panel, there is a 50/50 chance the detection won't pick up the stationary vehicle

Yep. I think that's gonna be on the agenda too.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So, one thing to mention.

See that squirt bottle of water?

It was there as a result of testing some wheels.

On one of them, there must've been something going on with the conductive paint because when I put the car on the track I got a bright light from under it, a waft of smoke, and a tiny little flame.

After dropping the truck off the car I tried it again. This time I got a tiny little arc. I tried getting a photo but whatever it was burned itself off quickly.
The wheelset got HOT, but luckily not enough to melt the truck or damage the  car (although it would've been quite prototypical).

This all reminds me of two things:
1. Don't leave your powered up layout unattended.
2. I'm now going to make sure my hidden staging tracks are powered off when power is not needed.

[John]

So, one thing to mention.

See that squirt bottle of water?

It was there as a result of testing some wheels.

On one of them, there must've been something going on with the conductive paint because when I put the car on the track I got a bright light from under it, a waft of smoke, and a tiny little flame.

After dropping the truck off the car I tried it again. This time I got a tiny little arc. I tried getting a photo but whatever it was burned itself off quickly.
The wheelset got HOT, but luckily not enough to melt the truck or damage the  car (although it would've been quite prototypical).

This all reminds me of two things:
1. Don't leave your powered up layout unattended.
2. I'm now going to make sure my hidden staging tracks are powered off when power is not needed.

It's possible some of the conductive paint got below the resistor and shorted it out .. I always let them dry overnight and then check conductivity with a meter ..