I don't really know what I am talking about but as I understand it a 'triac' is employed in certain light dimmers to allow the current to come on gradually, ie the lights to 'brighten up' to a preset level by themselves.

My locomotives can be controlled by signals and in turn control, via track control sections, other locomotives. The problem is that the locomotives are on/off and there is no accelerating or slowing stage.

By having two trains running at the same time (effectively overlapping after tripping each other) I can make starting and stopping a little more gradual but it is not controllable in any way.

All the locos are old with what I think you would describe as three pole, flat commutator AC motors.

So...would the installation of a 'triac' allow for gradual acceleration/slowing or slowing or am I barking up the wrong tree?

OK so this is hardly 'analogue' in spirit but it might be fun...

Colin thanks, It requires more understanding on my behalf, maybe more than I can muster but I now at least understand a bit more

All the best

Michael

Mike,

I didn't know about 6600 and 6699(?) I quick look on the internet and I am intrigued. Will need to find out more!

Thanks for the tip.

Michael

Hi Michael,

Wet day here in Oz so a perfect railway day!

Further info on the two 6600's that I use.

Both run separately with their own power coming from separate transformers so there is no earthing or phase problem.

The 6600 that I use on the stop/go section doesn't in fact work when you rotate the control fully anti-clockwise but the second one does as per the Marklin fashion.

Due to the position of the switching track 5146/7, there is a short period when the transformer is trying to power two loco's at the same time(more by luck than design!)so there is a sort of slow start and stop.

It is also important to remember not to have the loco pulling any wagon or coaches that have been fitted with a pickup shoe for lights etc as this will, of course, activate the stop/start process.

Using the contact rail section's 5115 or 5116 (there are several different contact track sections available) I think will fix this. I haven't tried as I have used my contact sections for my 7192 road rail crossing gate to extend the open and close time.

One of my favorite features of the 6600's are the two knobs that will set the start and brake retard time if they are set fully clockwise and the buttons 4 and 5 are set to green you get a more constant running speed. This means that for the older loco's you do not have to have them barrelling along to make it up any inclines. I'm sure this is to do with the current sensing devices in the electronic circuitry.

If you find one it is important to make sure that the unit will manually change the direction of you loco, as I have one that doesn't I use a 6699 for slow running speed and to change direction. Yes, it was a wiring nightmare but I managed to achieve it.

Hope all this helps.

regards,

Mike.

You are so right! ;-)

The diagram for the 6600 electronics controller is on the internet! I think it should not be too complicated to reproduce for an electtroinics buff.
Liked hinted in my previous posting; Keep this stuff FAR away from any digital locomotive!

G-Day Michael,
I know that you have found the circuit diagram already but if you look at the "6600, 6699" question just below your tri question on the site list you will find some info from 'Purellee' that will be helpful.

mike.