Hey Matt,
I generally agree about no 110V, but this is a special case.
I am working on an idea, which I will post at some point for review. I do not want to highjack this thread with my sillyness.
If you happen to stumble on the link for that board I would like to look at it.
Some great inexpensive ideas, but the AC would work a lot easier as you would be able to connect several up using a terminal block to your transformer.
Quick question for those in the know... What is the purpose of the bridge rectifier??
Scott
Erie; all the bridge rectifier does is convert AC to DC. The $1.93 converter uses DC as input, so adding the rectifier allows one to use transfomer output.
BW, this one cuts it down to 5 volts. Should be low enough for what you want
http://www.ebay.com/itm/282133095723
Hey Matt,
That could work. If I want to use the DC to run the menards structure, would I need to "do" anything to the DC?
Does it need to be at the 4.5V?
BTW, thanks for finding that. I tried, but while I am perfectly able to understand and follow instructions, I appear to not have enough knowledge to find electrical things either on the bay or digikey. I usually have to get help for some reason.
It's hard to say how close you'll get with that particular board as the detailed specs are non existent but I imagine you'll get it within 10% if it s lower you're in luck if it's too high you could knock it down .6v by using a big ol diode to trim the voltage down.
I understand that, as I said I am going to do a post on the project before I fully commit. Just chasing options.
thank you
I wonder how Lionel can connect their building and stuff to 18v DC or AC power from a transformer? Last night my wife ordered me 2 Menards buildings with no adapter available to light them. I do have an adjustable voltage wall wart and 30 or so DC power packs for HO trains. I reckon something I have will power them. I think the best thing that could happen is for someone to make a terminal to plug a number of buildings into one block. Hmmm somebody does that already!
Jim : )
stan2004 posted:John H posted:Here is the board...
Yes. Thanks for the photo - it confirms my suspicions about the (in)compatibility with the adapters that have apparently been pulled from the shelves.
Anyway, I like what you did with the low-cost DC-DC module with built-in voltmeter - less than $2 shipped! I realize you had a source of 12V DC but for guys that want to use 14-16V AC Accessory voltage I guess you can hold out for Menards to offer something. It would be a curious technical discussion about how they should/could support either 4.5V DC and 14-16V AC at the same time, with switches, with different connectors, whatever.
But in the mean time, if you can deal with a bit of wiring (though NO soldering and NO external meter required), here's an alternative:
If you don't "do" eBay or don't want to wait for free shipping from Asia, these items can be found at Amazon or domestic sources though typically 2-3 times the price.
I like this idea, especially for the area where I have Menards and Woodland Scenics buildings positioned next to each other. Would it allow me to use the Woodland Scenics Plug n Go lighting system for all of them?
Minor detail, are the cable pigtails on the power supplies from Menards 5.5 x 2.1 mm or 2.5 mm ?
Mike
ezmike posted:stan2004 posted:John H posted:Here is the board...
Yes. Thanks for the photo - it confirms my suspicions about the (in)compatibility with the adapters that have apparently been pulled from the shelves.
Anyway, I like what you did with the low-cost DC-DC module with built-in voltmeter - less than $2 shipped! I realize you had a source of 12V DC but for guys that want to use 14-16V AC Accessory voltage I guess you can hold out for Menards to offer something. It would be a curious technical discussion about how they should/could support either 4.5V DC and 14-16V AC at the same time, with switches, with different connectors, whatever.
But in the mean time, if you can deal with a bit of wiring (though NO soldering and NO external meter required), here's an alternative:
If you don't "do" eBay or don't want to wait for free shipping from Asia, these items can be found at Amazon or domestic sources though typically 2-3 times the price.
I like this idea, especially for the area where I have Menards and Woodland Scenics buildings positioned next to each other. Would it allow me to use the Woodland Scenics Plug n Go lighting system for all of them?
Minor detail, are the cable pigtails on the power supplies from Menards 5.5 x 2.1 mm or 2.5 mm ?
Mike
What is the output of the woodland scenic after the hub? Does the hub turn AC into DC? I watched their video and it says their wall wart is AC?? Or do they convert to DC in their buildings? Or do their lights run on AC?
I am interested in this as well
What is the input to a woodland scenics light?
My converter is rated 2amp. That's 100 LEDs or 10 signs, but I figure it will be easier to use a few more boards than to run all the buildings' wires from one spot.
Here's their power supply:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...w/Item/JP5770/page/1
And according to the information about their Lighting Hub, you can power it directly from a transformer:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...w/Item/JP5701/page/1
using these:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...w/Item/JP5760/page/1
Unfortunately, I do not know the answers to Carsntrains' questions and do not have the know how to determine it. I'm looking for a way to power structures from both companies without having different power sources or wiring requirements.
Maybe someone who knows will chime in.
Mike
see my new post on Menards Gas Station Lighting.
The WS hub can accept either AC or DC. As noted above the WS transformer is 16V AC, 1000 mA.
Each hub can daisy-chain the incoming AC (or DC) voltage to the next hub. Within each hub, the voltage is converted from AC-to-DC by a....wait for it....bridge rectifier! It then drives DC to each of its 4 LED outputs - each output has its own brightness control knob.
Note that from way back when, even HO DC train transformers typically supplied an AC output for accessories. I wouldn't be surprised if the issue of whether or not Menards buildings should directly accept 16V AC (or whatever) and/or 4.5V DC via switch selection, automatic selection, from different input connectors, etc. etc. is a topic of discussion at the alleged meeting Menards is having with their factory engineers this month...
stan2004 posted:The WS hub can accept either AC or DC. As noted above the WS transformer is 16V AC, 1000 mA.
Each hub can daisy-chain the incoming AC (or DC) voltage to the next hub. Within each hub, the voltage is converted from AC-to-DC by a....wait for it....bridge rectifier! It then drives DC to each of its 4 LED outputs - each output has its own brightness control knob.
Note that from way back when, even HO DC train transformers typically supplied an AC output for accessories. I wouldn't be surprised if the issue of whether or not Menards buildings should directly accept 16V AC (or whatever) and/or 4.5V DC via switch selection, automatic selection, from different input connectors, etc. etc. is a topic of discussion at the alleged meeting Menards is having with their factory engineers this month...
So since you must have these Woodland Scenic's buildings. Maybe you can put a voltage meter to one on the outputs AFTER it is switched from AC to DC and tell us what the voltage is going to the lights??
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...54#70974704698291754
No I don't have one but see the internal photos of the a light hub in above post.
The photos are from a thread (which I can't find just now) when the WS lighting system first came out. In that thread I remember asking the photo taker (who obviously had one) to make a few electrical measurements so I could provide guidance on how one could hook up their own LED(s) to the light hub. The pre-wired WS LEDs can thin your wallet! Kind of like razors and razor-blades - WS can give away the Light Hubs at the prices they charge for the LEDs! In my opinion of course.
Anyway, the measurements never came to be (a typical purchaser of a WS system is not interested in Amps, Volts, Ohms, etc.). I felt lucky just to get the photos!
ezmike posted:...Minor detail, are the cable pigtails on the power supplies from Menards 5.5 x 2.1 mm or 2.5 mm ?
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...01#70693070998784701
I don't have one or I'd measure it for you... but per above post,
And the winner is .... 5.5 x 2.1mm
stan2004 posted:The WS hub can accept either AC or DC. As noted above the WS transformer is 16V AC, 1000 mA.
Each hub can daisy-chain the incoming AC (or DC) voltage to the next hub. Within each hub, the voltage is converted from AC-to-DC by a....wait for it....bridge rectifier! It then drives DC to each of its 4 LED outputs - each output has its own brightness control knob.
Note that from way back when, even HO DC train transformers typically supplied an AC output for accessories. I wouldn't be surprised if the issue of whether or not Menards buildings should directly accept 16V AC (or whatever) and/or 4.5V DC via switch selection, automatic selection, from different input connectors, etc. etc. is a topic of discussion at the alleged meeting Menards is having with their factory engineers this month...
Thanks Stan2004, and I asked about the pigtails only to confirm the 2.1mm was the actual size.
So if there is a bridge rectifier inside of the Hub, the WS Hub could be used to light the Menards buildings? You could plug the wires from the barrel plug pigtail into the WS Linker Plug and connect the Linker to the Hub just like you would for the WS buildings. If this works than my problem is solved.
Mike
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