Solar power for return loops?

[Martino]

Hi everyone. I'm after some suggestions for powering my two return loops.

The set up DCC and runs around 400' on the edge of the garden. The track is fed from two feeds, one at each end of the main line. All the control equipment is in the garage, safely out of the rain and humidity. The transmitter/receiver for the Digitrax wireless is in weatherproof boxes under the eves. All this is background!

Now, I have two return loops that are controlled by (not surprisingly) return loop modules located in weatherproof housings.

I am experiencing some power drop in the loops. Nothing staggering and it affects some locos more than others. Most noticeable with a Bachmann Baldwin, and very noticeable with an LGB track cleaning loco. I understand that the answer would be to supply the loop modules with their own 24v feed. All well and good, but getting the 24v to the modules would require huge lengths of cable and digging into the lawn, which won't go down well and I'm not inclined to do it anyway!

So a thought is to get a couple of solar panels that chuck out 24v, connected to batteries and some sort of controller thingy, and plumb these into the return loop modules.

However, I'm a simpleton when it comes to this sort of electrics. Can anyone make any reasonable suggestions?

 

[nicebutdim]

I think a relatively simple system will suffice. The main part will be a charge controller like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Panel-Charger-Controller-Regulator-10A-12V-24V-Auto-Switch-CE-TSR-Safe-/271512068492?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3f3761618c The solar panel(s) and batteries connect to the controller as does the output to whatever you wish to power. Don't forget to fuse everything, especially the batteries as close to them as possible.

 

[muns]

What reverse loop modules are you using?

 

[Gizzy]

I guess you are using a DCC Digitrax reversing module?

http://www.digitrax.com/products/autoreversing/ar1/

These are fed by the DCC track feed, so I would suggest looking for the problem here first?

The rails act as the DCC bus, so any suspect joints here will cause problems. Check all the fishplates are tight, and greased with LGB Graphite paste or copperslip.

Also check the cabling. Is it still in good condition and are the connections still serviceable? Is the cabling up to the task? Thick speaker cabling is ideal but it must be suitable for outdoors use and the insulation must be UVA/UVB resistant.

If you go down the solar/battery power route, you will be feeding DC into your track at the loops and not DCC....

 

[PhilP]

As Gizzy says.. DC into the track is no good for a DCC system.

You *could* use a power booster, which has DC into it, fed from the panel/battery arrangement, and then feed the DCC output of this into your reverse loop modules..
The loop is isolated (in effect) so becomes its' own power-district. You would probably need a control cable to the booster though. - Depends on system, I believe?

 

[Martino]

Thanks Gents.

The reverse loop modules are Zimo MX7. These will act independently, or also as a sector booster if powered by a DC feed of the same voltage as the rest.

Yes, it should be ok to run from the track bus, but I'm thinking I'm loosing something along the way.

As you suggest, I'll check out the cables and connections again this coming weekend.

It would be nice to boost them though. Perhaps I'm just trying to over complicate things?

 

[Gizzy]

Found this on the web;

http://www.zimo.at/web2010/documents/MX7E.pdf

The units are only rated for 3A, so those locos which draw high current could cause it to be on its limits.

I don't know what a LGB TCL or a Bachmann Baldwin draws, but I would think they could be close to the 3A rating of the Zimo MX7.

You could try the sector booster function by running a temporary cable and see if it works, but I would still check the cabling, joints, connections and fishplates first, as these are more likely to be the cause if everything was working when newly installed....

 

[Martino]

Good advice Gizzy, thank you.

Looks like next Sunday promises more hands and knees work in the mosquito hell that's around that piece of the railway!

Thanks again