Stellar! You do it because you can! Down here in Venice, Florida, now, from the SF Bay Area...Trusting all is well on the Wasatch Front! Best to Karyn! PK@@ToyManTelevision
G'day Toy Man, and Karyn! Nice Job! Enjoying the videos! I too, can not wait for this whole series of videos! (Electricity for Model Railroads) By the way... Here’s to another year full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories with your wonderful family, too!! Happy New Year! Cheers! 😊🚂❤ P.S. A police officer just knocked on my door, and told me, my dog is chasing people on bikes. That's ridiculous. My dog doesn't even own a bike. Lol! 🤣
Excellent!!! Going to always have my cup of tea ready to learn about the electricity so I can hook up a small RR at Christmas time. I will be staying tuned for this class with a cool professor at the helm.
Do you suppose Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse thought about the two buckets? Meanwhile, don’t forget about American Flyer. My American Flyer is two rail AC.
YUP! In the early days DC was expensive. AC simple. And Gilbert felt they could overcome the insulated axle problems. BUT ON AVERAGE three rails mean AC. Two DC. Lionel did switch over to DC in the 70's still using three rails. And as you say, AF used two rails DC. BUt even HO trains using AC are three rail. No real reason other than AC came first. And three rail is simpler.
I too had American Flyer trains (AC 2 rail). To reverse the polarity (make the loco change direction) there was a mechanism that switched polarity in the locomotive. These things were the bane of American Flyer. My dad had to have all of our locomotives switching units replaced, or we did it ourselves, (not sure, I was to young and my dad was not very mechanical). This series is going to be interesting. Although I understand basic electricity concepts, all of what it takes to run trains today is beyond me. (I'm still stuck in the 1970's)
Not relevant to the topic of this video (sorry), but I have about 250ft of track on my G scale railroad. I'm using 20 gauge because it was significantly cheaper than 12 and 14. It's running well, but is there any benefit to upgrading?? Thanks for the video. Interesting topic.
It sort of depends on what you’re doing. Is this the only feed to the track? From how far? What trains are you running on what grade? My old outside railroad had a 16 gauge buss under the track with 20 gauge feeders off that to every rail joint. And I had a 5% grade. When running 4 locomotives with two motors each it totally stalled on the hill. But one engine went right up. The amperage pull was just too much. Like 10 amps. The wire was too small. As was the power supply at 5 amps. My small feeders were a problem.
@@alexmanne if you are running heavy loads with powerful locomotives 🚂 it may be a problem. The choke point is not the wire until you put it under heave load. Then it’s a problem. But as long as the locomotives are not pulling more power than the wire can handle then it’s fine.
@@ToyManTelevision That's also great to know and something to consider since I'm not planning on buying a new engine anytime soon. Thanks again for the reply!
I keep thinking that eventually trains will be run by battery power. I have a Lionel ready to run set that uses a rechargeable 9.6 volt NiCad battery. It pulls 11 cars plus the tender which contains the battery. Counting the engine makes 13 items. It will run continuously for about 15 minutes. If the tender space was utilized efficiently, with a Lithium battery, it could run for an hour or more.
Yup. I have had those. My rotary snowplow is battery. Can run for hours. And I have a K36 on battery but I’m taking it back to track power. And I had a rail bus that I could run for about 3 hours. Lost to history.
Yup. Well it adds a few problems. As in I have over 40 locomotives and it costs about 200 to add DCC to one and can yak like a week to do. Or easy. Depends.
SWEET! I used it in my sound classes. First step in understanding impedance. I had an uncle who did that. WELL two uncles. When Japan invaded Manchuria they both decided to enlist. Roy joined the Navy because he wanted to learn electric motors and "Unk" wanted to be a pilot. And getting in early they both got what they wanted. But Roy signed onto the Penn Central after the war. HOW COOL IS THAT! Same motors. Same systems. But they sent him to Prinston!
Sorry Dale, but you are NO Nickola Tesla! I suppose that you would say that since there are 2 wires, one red and one black, that the electrons flow through the red positive wire to the black negative wire, Right?
Hi Vinny! Well.... Nope. Not exactly. As I say, its a good way to think of it. Sorta how its works. But not really. But its a good analog fer it. Ill TRY to explain better on Friday. The sneaky little electrons are nomads. The energy that pushes the electrons "flows" around the wire. The damn electrons wander all over the place but for every one that enters the circuit from the supply, one comes out the other end. Well... I should say on average. As I say, they are sneaky.
@ToyManTelevision -Dale, I had to totally rewire my Dodge Maxi-Van and I found out that the electrons Do Not go through the wire but around the outside edge of the wire in a magnetic field. That's why you see so many cars catch fire 🔥 when drivers add a sound system in their cars without upping the wire gauges, the original wires heat up in their tightly bound cables or jackets! Plus, most people don't understand that those pesky electrons actually travel from the (-) negative pole from the battery to the (+) pole, like positive attracts in nature too when you were attracted to your girl: Karyn, before you got married to her!! It's also known that, if those electrons did actually travel through the wire, the metal of the wire would eventually fall apart or break the circuit, which we all know doesn't happen!!!
Yep...current goes around the surface and not "through" the wire. Good catch! Back in the early '70s when I was working at Intel, the company would hire just about anyone from any of the military services who had experience in things that go phyzzzzzzz in the night for bongo bucks. Teslas go into flame mode on a whim..... @@vinnyheaphy1372
Absolutely horrible explanations of AC and DC and I don't think necessary for model railroaders to understand. Scared me off from watching and I'm an Electrical Engineer. But I watched anyway. After about 7 minutes in got more interesting. The AC/DC motor hook up was new to me.
Great vidio, description was perfect and easy to follow.Thanks for the morning coffee...
HI! Im now on my second cup. One eye for each cup. Or one cup for each eye? Anyway, instant human. Just add coffee.
Great information . thank you .see you Sunday
HI Steve. Well Im sneaking one in on Friday. Normally anything on "Fast Friday" would be a race car. This time a geeky explainer.
I am looking forward to this series! Thank you!
You are so welcome! I’m having fun with it!
Thanks!!!!❤
That's a new hairstyle and beard? Love it! Looking forward to the tutorials and VERY informative personal experiences! Well done!
More to come! Same hair and beard. Sometimes I comb it. Or cut it. Or ignore it. But the beard gets cropped every few weeks.
Stellar! You do it because you can! Down here in Venice, Florida, now, from the SF Bay Area...Trusting all is well on the Wasatch Front! Best to Karyn! PK@@ToyManTelevision
Well didn’t know that we were talking about AC/DC 😁 today 😁
ROCK ON!!
When you started your description using water buckets and a hose, what came to my mind was the original 'Water Level" in construction. LOL! 🙂
Been there used that. To put in a suspension ceiling.
G'day Toy Man, and Karyn! Nice Job! Enjoying the videos! I too, can not wait for this whole series of videos! (Electricity for Model Railroads) By the way... Here’s to another year full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories with your wonderful family, too!! Happy New Year! Cheers! 😊🚂❤
P.S. A police officer just knocked on my door, and told me, my dog is chasing people on bikes. That's ridiculous. My dog doesn't even own a bike. Lol! 🤣
Awesome! Thank you! Happy and prosperous new year right back!
@@ToyManTelevision Your welcome, Toy Man! Yes! Happy New Year!! 🚂❤
Dear Dale and Karyn, at first HNY! Great analogies on DC and AC!
Thank you kindly!
Nice to keep up on current events
I know. You couldn’t resist.
@@ToyManTelevision sometimes I don't have the capacity to resist, I guess I'll have to Amp up my resistance
Can’t wait for this whole series of videos! It’s about time I learned a bit more about wiring, and from who better than the Toy Man himself!
WOW!!! THANKS!!
Excellent!!! Going to always have my cup of tea ready to learn about the electricity so I can hook up a small RR at Christmas time. I will be staying tuned for this class with a cool professor at the helm.
Perfect!😍.
Do you suppose Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse thought about the two buckets? Meanwhile, don’t forget about American Flyer. My American Flyer is two rail AC.
YUP! In the early days DC was expensive. AC simple. And Gilbert felt they could overcome the insulated axle problems. BUT ON AVERAGE three rails mean AC. Two DC. Lionel did switch over to DC in the 70's still using three rails. And as you say, AF used two rails DC. BUt even HO trains using AC are three rail. No real reason other than AC came first. And three rail is simpler.
PS, well both George and Tesla kicked the bucket. so....
@@ToyManTelevision Do you suppose the buckets they kicked were connected to hoses too?
@@Nathanator-6688To funny!
@@ToyManTelevisionYou are far too funny!
Will you consider doing a video/segment on Dead Rail/Battery Power?
Yup. Some interesting things happening there!
I too had American Flyer trains (AC 2 rail). To reverse the polarity (make the loco change direction) there was a mechanism that switched polarity in the locomotive. These things were the bane of American Flyer. My dad had to have all of our locomotives switching units replaced, or we did it ourselves, (not sure, I was to young and my dad was not very mechanical).
This series is going to be interesting. Although I understand basic electricity concepts, all of what it takes to run trains today is beyond me. (I'm still stuck in the 1970's)
and you can wire in a bridge rectifier, remove the reversing unit and run it on DC
@@davidkoehler136 WOW!!! Never though of that! COOL IDEA!!
@ThunderMesaStudio recommended your series. I'm glad he did!
Not relevant to the topic of this video (sorry), but I have about 250ft of track on my G scale railroad. I'm using 20 gauge because it was significantly cheaper than 12 and 14. It's running well, but is there any benefit to upgrading?? Thanks for the video. Interesting topic.
It sort of depends on what you’re doing. Is this the only feed to the track? From how far? What trains are you running on what grade? My old outside railroad had a 16 gauge buss under the track with 20 gauge feeders off that to every rail joint. And I had a 5% grade. When running 4 locomotives with two motors each it totally stalled on the hill. But one engine went right up. The amperage pull was just too much. Like 10 amps. The wire was too small. As was the power supply at 5 amps. My small feeders were a problem.
Ps. If it’s working it’s fine.
@@ToyManTelevision Haha, yeah it's working fine. Sounds like no need to mess with it. Thanks for the response!
@@alexmanne if you are running heavy loads with powerful locomotives 🚂 it may be a problem. The choke point is not the wire until you put it under heave load. Then it’s a problem. But as long as the locomotives are not pulling more power than the wire can handle then it’s fine.
@@ToyManTelevision That's also great to know and something to consider since I'm not planning on buying a new engine anytime soon. Thanks again for the reply!
I did this for three years in Charleston, SC.
COOL!
How can you move on from scales and gauges when you didn't cover the G-scale mess?
We sort of did. But you’re right. We need to really go into that.
But... what do they do when they have the wires above the cars?
We will cover that!
I keep thinking that eventually trains will be run by battery power. I have a Lionel ready to run set that uses a rechargeable 9.6 volt NiCad battery. It pulls 11 cars plus the tender which contains the battery. Counting the engine makes 13 items. It will run continuously for about 15 minutes. If the tender space was utilized efficiently, with a Lithium battery, it could run for an hour or more.
Yup. I have had those. My rotary snowplow is battery. Can run for hours. And I have a K36 on battery but I’m taking it back to track power. And I had a rail bus that I could run for about 3 hours. Lost to history.
What about s scale that two rail?😊
Yup. AC. All early trains were AC. AF sort of became an outlier. There were a few. DC three rail. AC two rail.
Doesn't DCC solve all your control problems? Hey, and build a loop on your garden layout!
Yup. Well it adds a few problems. As in I have over 40 locomotives and it costs about 200 to add DCC to one and can yak like a week to do. Or easy. Depends.
The US Navy electric and electronic schools teach using the water flow method on teaching students.
SWEET! I used it in my sound classes. First step in understanding impedance. I had an uncle who did that. WELL two uncles. When Japan invaded Manchuria they both decided to enlist. Roy joined the Navy because he wanted to learn electric motors and "Unk" wanted to be a pilot. And getting in early they both got what they wanted. But Roy signed onto the Penn Central after the war. HOW COOL IS THAT! Same motors. Same systems. But they sent him to Prinston!
I have gained new respect for you all. I see PeeWee up on the shelf !!!
HI! Yup, Paul Rubins. Peeee! AAARUUUG!
Hey Mike how long did it take you to notice Pee Wee! Dale overloads our senses with his introduction. Never boring always unique and interesting.
About 10 seconds !!! I loved the show and films !!@@kenshores9900
Sorry Dale, but you are NO Nickola Tesla! I suppose that you would say that since there are 2 wires, one red and one black, that the electrons flow through the red positive wire to the black negative wire, Right?
Hi Vinny! Well.... Nope. Not exactly. As I say, its a good way to think of it. Sorta how its works. But not really. But its a good analog fer it. Ill TRY to explain better on Friday. The sneaky little electrons are nomads. The energy that pushes the electrons "flows" around the wire. The damn electrons wander all over the place but for every one that enters the circuit from the supply, one comes out the other end. Well... I should say on average. As I say, they are sneaky.
@ToyManTelevision -Dale, I had to totally rewire my Dodge Maxi-Van and I found out that the electrons Do Not go through the wire but around the outside edge of the wire in a magnetic field. That's why you see so many cars catch fire 🔥 when drivers add a sound system in their cars without upping the wire gauges, the original wires heat up in their tightly bound cables or jackets! Plus, most people don't understand that those pesky electrons actually travel from the (-) negative pole from the battery to the (+) pole, like positive attracts in nature too when you were attracted to your girl: Karyn, before you got married to her!! It's also known that, if those electrons did actually travel through the wire, the metal of the wire would eventually fall apart or break the circuit, which we all know doesn't happen!!!
Yep...current goes around the surface and not
"through" the wire. Good catch! Back in the early '70s when I was working at Intel, the company would hire just about anyone from any of the military services who had experience in things that go phyzzzzzzz in the night for bongo bucks. Teslas go into flame mode on a whim..... @@vinnyheaphy1372
How boring can it get?
Absolutely horrible explanations of AC and DC and I don't think necessary for model railroaders to understand. Scared me off from watching and I'm an Electrical Engineer. But I watched anyway. After about 7 minutes in got more interesting. The AC/DC motor hook up was new to me.