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| Using static grass applicators - RR & Co - Getting You Started. - Your Model Railway Club | ||||||||||
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charliebishop Full Member 
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I recently used a a static grass applicator in the usual way. A few days later, my Digitrax PM42 (a current sensing device used to protect the layout against short circuits etc) has frozen up on all four power districts rendering it unserviceable. The layout had not been powered up since before installing the static grass. Is this sheer coincidence or could it be that the current produced could have found its way onto the PM42's circuits? When you consider the amount of current sensitive circuit boards that one can install, this could clearly be a real issue. Has anyone any advice or experience regarding this situation? Regards Charlie |
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The Q Full Member
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A static grass applicator runs at around 1500V, the slightest touch of the voltage, directly to the rails or possibly via wet PVA alongside the track will fry any electronics on a railway, as that is rated normally around 15V that's 100 times less. That sort of voltage will actually jump a small distance. Once I get round to the stage of scenic work, all Electronics will be removed to a safe distance before waving a converted bug swatter around. Says he hoping he remembers. Q ____________________ Now finally starting a model railway... |
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JimRead Full Member 
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Hello Charlie, I made a static grass applicator from a fly swatter and used it on a layout, nothing happened to my controller but then it is a homemade 3 transistor pulsed feedback effort. The voltage may be 1500 but the amperage that could have caused some damage is very small indeed. Having said that though if a controller is made using logic chips and especially unbuffered ones then merely handling them without earthing your hands will blow them. But even worse than that; I was trying to do overgrown with grass track and the problem I had with the stuff was that the slightest bit of 'grass' that got on the rail stalled a loco, I run 0-4-0's and they do need all four wheels on the rail. It took me ages to get rid of it all in the end I had to resort to a brass suede brush. Months later I was still picking bits off! Never again lol Cheers - Jim ____________________ My web site: https://ogaugemicro.blogspot.co.uk/ O Gauge Micro Layouts |
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charliebishop Full Member
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In future, I will always disconnect whatever I can. From a Digitrax point of view, this entails pulling off the BDL168, PM42 and SE8C terminal blocks. Of course this still leaves the DS64s and many other components with other manufacturers being vulnerable. I believe that this is a real issue and one that folks need to consider before reeking havoc with a Static Grass Applicator. Regards Charlie |
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ZeldaTheSwordsman Madman 
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I suppose this can be added to the list of reasons to not hard-wire everything in.
____________________ My workbench, AKA an exercise in insanity 
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Silver Fox Deceased Member 
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of course you could just use the old balloon method,, still works for me   Owen ____________________ web-cam http://82.2.74.174:8081 if the lights are off no cam |
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Chiefnerd Full Member
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Hi Owen "balloon methord" As some one about to start the scenic bits could you please elaborate. Thanks Andrew |
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JimRead Full Member
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Hello Andrew, I think the idea is to scatter the grass glue it until not quite set then inflate a balloon and rub it up and down a sleeve wool perhaps, acrylic, cotton as well I think, this statically charges the balloon hole it above the grass and there we go! it's upright!! Cheers - Jem ____________________ My web site: https://ogaugemicro.blogspot.co.uk/ O Gauge Micro Layouts |
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Silver Fox Deceased Member
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got it in one Owen ____________________ web-cam http://82.2.74.174:8081 if the lights are off no cam |
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Chubber Casseroled Badger 
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Picture the scene.... Lovely calm Sunday morning, my first packet of static grass fibres, PVA diluted in yoghurt pot and slapped on. Cat dozing on sunny window-sill. Long sausage balloon inflated and rubbed vigorously on Marks and Spencer's finest lambs wool Christmas present pullover. Fibres sprinkled. Balloon brought close to fibres, but even closer to signal box finial. BANG! Exploding balloon. Air-born cat [Think Tom and Jerry] Yoghurt pot of dilute P.V.A, everywhere. Everywhere includes Marks and Spencer's finest lambs wool Christmas present pullover. This having come 24 hours after strimming wet grass too close to newly washed bedding on washing line..... I too have never used static grass fibres since. Doug ____________________ 'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil...' Aesop's Fables "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin |
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sparky Member
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____________________ reg |
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Chiefnerd Full Member
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Doug That is a very clear explanation on how to do static grass with a balloon. What happens if you do not have a cat? Can you substitute anything else? Andrew |
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Longchap Full Member 
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Well, in biblical terms, grass seems to have come before cats or even finials, so as long as one models following recognised patterns of terra forming, it should all be right as 9/- (nine pence). Any bright spark know the derivation of the above monetary quip? Cheers, Bill  ____________________ At 6'4'', Bill is a tall chap, then again, when horizontal he is rather long and people often used to trip over him! . . . and so a nickname was born |
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ZeldaTheSwordsman Madman
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Chiefnerd wrote: Doug You can usually statically charge a balloon by rubbing it on your head ____________________ My workbench, AKA an exercise in insanity
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BCDR Moderator 
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Longchap wrote: Well, in biblical terms, grass seems to have come before cats or even finials, so as long as one models following recognised patterns of terra forming, it should all be right as 9/- (nine pence). Old English proverb, "As fine as fippence, as neat as nine pence. ..." OED2. Apparently there was a ninepence silver coin. Nigel ____________________ ©Nigel C. Phillips |
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pnwood DON'T SHOUT my hearing is fine 
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ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote: Chiefnerd wrote:Doug  Only if you still have hair  ____________________ Nick AKA Woody ------- Much Murkle GWR a layout in the making Much Murkle website |
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Chubber Casseroled Badger
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pnwood wrote: ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Chiefnerd wrote:Doug Doug PS "Old English proverb, "As fine as fippence, as neat as nine pence. ..." OED2. Apparently there was a ninepence silver coin. Nigel" IIRC a Ninepence piece was square....Right angle? [Pub quizzing comes in useful at last! Just thinking.... D ____________________ 'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil...' Aesop's Fables "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin |
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sparky Member
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Only if you still have hair! Ah that,s why i just get this squeaking sound . ____________________ reg |
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col.stephens Full Member
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sparky wrote: Only if you still have hair! Ah that,s why i just get this squeaking sound . I always thought the squeaking sound was the rusted hinges on my wallet! Terry |
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