Dapol 4mm Semaphores
Posted
Full Member
Wiring
Have you seen this:-http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Adapter-16V-AC-Out-120V-AC-In-Class-2-Transformer-Suspened-Animation-/261002686459?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item3cc4f8effb
Last edit: by Geoff R
Posted
Full Member
John
John
Posted
Full Member
http://www.modelrailwayimports.com/product.php?PID=3204&CID=0&BID=0&TID=0&SID=0&q=c996
This is on order.
This whole saga is really only an issue for folk in N. America or whose indigenous DC Controllers output more than 16VAC.
John
John
Posted
Full Member
I was recently looking at soldering stations and thought wow, they're much cheaper in the States than here, then I remembered they run on 120 volts not 240.
I suppose if you're only getting half the volts, you'd only expect to pay half the price …………….
'Petermac
Posted
Full Member
I'm actually surprised that more people from over here haven't chipped in. These are good sellers. I was talking to Steve at MRI who tells me that he and the distributor haven't had any complaints. Wonders….is it just me?
John
Last edit: by Brossard
John
Posted
Full Member
I'd really love to hear from someone who has wired these up and got them working.
I've been told that Dapol chose AC so that it wouldn't matter which way the wires were connected - simplicity.
Dapol also say that to use DC will burn out the motor.
John
John
Posted
Site staff
Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
Posted
Full Member
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/53096-dapol-working-signals-review/page__st__325
Page 14
I've got to wonder with the prevalence of DCC and so many people going straight into it, there aren't going to be a lot of people with an AC supply available via their old DC controller. I've been told that Hornby trainset DC controllers don't have an AC output. As discussed above, these signals don't lend themselves to DCC operation.
John
Last edit: by Brossard
John
Posted
Site staff
The Model Shop for Big Imaginations | Gaugemaster WM1
Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
Posted
Full Member
My original question was to find out who else has these and what their experience has been - I'm still waiting for that.
John
John
Posted
Full Member
This link tells the story:
http://www.cravenmodels.com/DAPOLSIGNALHELP.htm
Scroll down the page. The Dapol instructions are reproduced but Cravens added a page with diagrams.
I wish I'd known this three weeks ago - so many tears could have been averted.
John
Last edit: by Brossard
John
Posted
Site staff
I am glad you have it sussed out now.
Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
Posted
Full Member
John
John
Posted
Site staff
I used Hornby passing contact switches which are not great - you have to futz around getting them to make contact.
John
That is why I prefer the Peco units - they also only give one pulse per movement whereas the older Hornby give 2 .
Nice to hear that success has been obtained John.
Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
Posted
Full Member
John
John
Posted
Full Member
I have just installed a Dapol 4mm signal exactly as instructed with 16V AC on the black and red wires and a push-to-make on the two yellow ones.
The signal worked fine for 5 or 6 operations and then started to "chatter" as if it was trying to work. Then nothing.
I think it fried the supply transformer as well
Is there an issue with these things? What was Dapol Dave's response? I'm £30 down and no signal. If it's me then, fine, I'll take the hit but I can't say I'm impressed with the unit at this stage.
Barry
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
Posted
Full Member
John
John
Posted
Full Member
Still not over impressed but tempted to try another one using a better switch. If it was that vital perhaps they should follow the Peco lead and sell a range of switches as well.
Btw - did you ever get a reply from Dapol Dave?
Barry
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
Posted
Full Member
Checking the thread, I also bought a cheapish Hornby power supply.
No, I don't recall getting anything from Dave.
Best of luck with yours.
John
John
Posted
Full Member
I have talked to many people using them on layouts and the rate of failure is very, very high.
Dapol must know of this problem but have seemingly done nothing about it. I wouldn't buy any more Dapol signals.
There is a lengthy thread on RMweb saying the same thing and it seems that the problem is the instruction to use 16v ac. Many seem to now have had success using 12v dc although I can't confirm this works as I took a different route. I stripped out the motor and gubbins which looks like cheap chinese crap and fitted a Little Jemmy motor which works a treat.
1 guest and 0 members have just viewed this.