Controling AC Motors(70s Modeltrain)

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Hi Guys

Im currently working on a project to control an old Modeltrain with an Arduino.

does someone have an idea of how to control it.

It has a voltage range from 7-24v.

Is there comerically available sources for smmth like this.

Thx in advance

2

Model trains use DC motors. There is a transformer down to low voltage AC, then a rectifier and a polarity
switch for reversing and some sort of power control (in olden times a rheostat I believe). The DC is not smoothed, its half-cycles, typically, and thyristor control is probably common.

Have you searched for "arduino model train controller"

3

Okay, but i still dont wanna mess with them its old and expensive so ye.

4

Or do you mean i can just throw dc voltage at them ?

5

MarkT:
Model trains use DC motors.

No. He is describing traditional Märklin.

6

Lionel uses AC. Please supply more information about this old model train.

7

phase control, triac (maybe?)

8

ok so, it is a märklin

9

Hi,
Can you post a picture of the train concerned so we can see what we are looking at?

How do you know it is AC?
How do you know its voltage range?

Tom..... :slight_smile:

10

Traditional Märklin used a centre studded power "rail" in the sleepers (so it was not an obvious third rail) with a long "shoe" under the loco. Not entirely practical and they have apparently since gone to simple two rail.

Whatever they use now - and I have not studied it - they originally used AC with an over-voltage pulse to toggle the reversing relay in the locomotive itself (since you can of course, not "reverse" the AC polarity :grinning: ).