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    Reducing Voltage Drop over distance

    Hi all, I'm really just after an understanding check here. For my project (Model Railway in the garden), to prevent me having to run 240v all around the garden, i'm planning on putting the 240v/220v to 12v transformers in a shed, keeping the dangerous stuff out of the weather. I want to...
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    What to do with old lead free solder?

    Supercap2F - I just can't get it to flow or tin at all. It seems to simply form balls, regardless of the temperature, or the materials being soldered. I suspect it's more due to the fact that the roll has to be at least 10 years old, and not always stored in the best of conditions, rather than...
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    What to do with old lead free solder?

    Hi all, Looking for a little advice. quite some time ago, I bought some a large reel of lead free solder, and at the time, it worked for what I needed it for. It's now rather old, and being lead free, its no good for any soldering work at all... I'm basically throwing it out. Question is...
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    Use Capacitive Sensing to detect a train?

    As far as I understand this (and it's not really very far at al), as long as the material is conductive, then when it is close, or touching the 'detection' surface, in my case a rail, the capacitance of the rail will change. This change is measured, and responded to at a 'software' level of...
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    Use Capacitive Sensing to detect a train?

    Thanks for the advice, hevans1944 The railway uses DC rather than DCC, as we find it allows for a more authentic setup, in the aspects we care about. Additionally, non DCC stock tends to be considerably cheaper. I think block occupancy is only trivial in DCC for locos. Rolling stock doesn't...
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    Use Capacitive Sensing to detect a train?

    RFID is also being considered... it does add the ability to tell which train, or consist has passed over the reader, and using a tag at either end, we can tell if that train is complete... The capacitive idea allows us to detect if something is in that section, rather like 'track circuits' do...
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    Use Capacitive Sensing to detect a train?

    Hi Adam, Magnets have been considered, but in the scale (HO), have been known to be a bit unreliable. It's also not possible to detect things without motors, unless they are modified to contain one. I doubt there is enough metal in the stock for accurate detection. How would Capacitive...
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    Use Capacitive Sensing to detect a train?

    Hi All, Is it possible to use capacitive sensing to detect the presence of a conductive object on a model railway? How would such a setup be affected by changes in voltage, current and polarity? For a bit of background, what I am trying to come up with is a system for detecting the presence...
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    Switching loads using Raspberry Pi

    I think it is exactly how you state Bobk. Having a basic understanding how electricity works, I think in circles, and thus automatically place switches before the object I want control. I know it will work either way, but it's how I approach it logically., not knowing workings behind a...
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    Switching loads using Raspberry Pi

    Thanks both for the pointers... I do struggle with the more technical bits of this... there is loads to take in and understand! I'll do some reading, and come back if I have any more follow up questions.
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    Switching loads using Raspberry Pi

    Am I correct in saying the only difference between the two is the resistor on the Base, or have I missed something?
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    Switching loads using Raspberry Pi

    Thanks Kris, I think I understand the difference, (even if I don't understand why it's different!) so I should now be able to kludge something together when required. Regards. Steve
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    Switching loads using Raspberry Pi

    Hi All, I'm starting to get into projects where I need to switch loads on an off, using a Raspberry Pi. The Pi can only handle a few mA at 3v3, so as projects get larger, I need to isolate the switching from the power. The general way of doing this, as I understand it, is to use NPN...
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    Polarity Dependant lighting - Model project

    I think you are correct in that it's not worth the time in development! I'll look into doing it with a PIC instead. Thanks for the input! much appreciated!
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    Polarity Dependant lighting - Model project

    Arouse > I'm planning on using 4 LED's in 2 pairs. The pairs can be connected in parallel or series, whichever works best for the circuit. 1 red pair and 1 white pair. Harold > Thanks for looking at this. I knew the relay circuit wasn't suitable, but I couldn't rock up here without at least...
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    Polarity Dependant lighting - Model project

    Hi All, I'm trying to design a circuit to enhance the operation of a model locomotive, so that the headlights activate on the correct direction, and switch to red both ends, if the train is not in motion. I'm not able to use a 'DCC' method of this, as I use analogue control. Attached is what...
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    Any Fritzing users? Can you help explain whats going on?

    Hi Ketanrd01, Thanks for the advice, I'll have a look. I'm using fritzing as it's got the breadboard view I like to work in, and also already has parts available that I need. I've found that other programs either tend not to have the parts i'm using, or make it very difficult to create new...
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    Any Fritzing users? Can you help explain whats going on?

    Hi all, I've been attempting to use Fritzing to design a circuit I want to put onto a PCB in the future. I've set up the breadboard view to replicate my real-world breadboard, and i'm happy with it. Going into the PCB view. I've located the items roughly where I want them on the board, and...
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    Help please!!

    Hi, Just wondering if you have given thought to using an Raspberry Pi camera to capture your images? there is lots of documentation for doing this, and i believe people are doing almost exactly what you are trying to do with it. (not including the SD card part, you don't need that in this...
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    Capacitors and Leds

    Hi, You might find that waiting until you get to DCC, as a standard DC system could get damaged by a DCC setup. (If I recall correctly, the Hornby system runs at 16v AC,) Just my 2cents! If you do find a solution for this, I'd love to know what you do, as I've got interest in a HO...
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