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 Posted - May 22 2022 : 11:40:07 AM
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I have a problem with my Tyco Amtrak coaches. I want them to stay lighted when in operation, and they constantly flicker. I have been meaning to fix this for a long time, but don't know how. Any info would be appreciated.
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 Posted - May 22 2022 : 3:13:40 PM
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quote:I have a problem with my Tyco Amtrak coaches. I want them to stay lighted when in operation, and they constantly flicker. I have been meaning to fix this for a long time, but don't know how. Any info would be appreciated.
Originally posted by tyco collecter - May 22 2022 : 11:40:07 AM
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Usually, that means the wheels are dirty.
The pickup could also be improved by wiring together multiple cars, though if you're a collector, I don't know if you want to ruin the originality of the cars.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - May 22 2022 : 10:47:16 PM
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To improve pickup, just add a drop or 2 of synthetic oil into the areas where the points or ends of the axles spin inside the trucks, on the brass (contact) sides of the axles. 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - May 22 2022 : 11:36:43 PM
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quote:I have a problem with my Tyco Amtrak coaches. I want them to stay lighted when in operation, and they constantly flicker. I have been meaning to fix this for a long time, but don't know how. Any info would be appreciated.
Originally posted by tyco collecter - May 22 2022 : 11:40:07 AM
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If the cars have derailed and/or been dropped, the bulb could be loose.
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Posted - June 07 2022 : 6:54:02 PM
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| One option would be to add a capacitor inline with the lights. The "keep alive" option on DCC decoders use this. I am not an expert in electronics, so the size of capacitor someone else will have to help with.
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Posted - July 22 2022 : 11:41:58 PM
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SuperCaps would work. Voltage you need and 6-8 farads worth. Each car.
Or, troubleshoot. Are the trucks wired? As in, wires attached to the truck, up through the floor, to the bulbs? Or just truck bolster rubbing on metal frame bolster and kingpin?
Plastic trucks with wipers? Metal trucks?
As said, dirty wheels...but if wipers, corroded on back of wheels or axles. Metal truck to metal frame, corrosion. Used to cause Athearn diseasmals to stutter and flicker at low speed. I've fixed dozens of those with hard wire for frame contact.
Add to that the light weight of plastic Half 0 stuff....
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Posted - July 23 2022 : 2:05:36 PM
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actually you gotta put in a diode or something like that to keep them on
I'll ask a friend how since he did that to a customers passenger cars 
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Posted - July 23 2022 : 5:23:09 PM
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quote:One option would be to add a capacitor inline with the lights. The "keep alive" option on DCC decoders use this. I am not an expert in electronics, so the size of capacitor someone else will have to help with.
Originally posted by Guidostrains - June 07 2022 : 6:54:02 PM
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I would not advise using capacitors in this circuit. ELectrolytic capacitors are polarity sensitive. You wouldn;t want one to go boom when you changed direction.
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Posted - July 23 2022 : 11:10:56 PM
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quote:I would not advise using capacitors in this circuit. ELectrolytic capacitors are polarity sensitive. You wouldn;t want one to go boom when you changed direction.
Originally posted by jward - July 23 2022 : 5:23:09 PM
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A bridge rectifier would make the polarity always the same in the lighting circuit, but would result in the lighting circuit having about 1.4 fewer volts than the track. A silicon diode loses .7 volts, and the rectifier would mean two diodes at any time in series with the lighting circuit. I don't know whether that would make it impractical or not.
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Posted - July 25 2022 : 4:57:18 PM
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I think you may be onto something. A capacitor across the DC outputs of a bridge rectifier should eliminate any flickering. Browsing the net, I found this on Imgur. I don;t know who to credit this image to but the circuit should work well.
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Posted - July 25 2022 : 4:58:17 PM
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quote:I think you may be onto something. A capacitor across the DC outputs of a bridge rectifier should eliminate any flickering. Browsing the net, I found this on Imgur. I don;t know who to credit this image to but the circuit should work well.
https://imgur.com/9MyPeCD
Originally posted by jward - July 25 2022 : 4:57:18 PM
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