I suspect it is the PWM motor feed. There are lots of reports of sound cards not liking PWM, as it is full-voltage but switched on-off rapidly, thus producing pulses to the motor.
You can also get a PWM to regular DC conversion module, I believe.
Running Sierra sound with lithium ion???
- Thread starter paul delany
- Start date
You can also get a PWM to regular DC conversion module, I believe.
Sierras indeed do not like pwm, definitely for "motor speed"
There are specific circuits to avoid issues, the typical symptom is sound does not follow actual speed.
So you have 2 issues:
Cannot run the Sierra over 12 volts
Need to "process" the motor "signal" for voltage and isolation from the too high track voltage, thus too high motor voltage.
email me and I will send you the technical notes you need.
It's not simple.
Greg
There are specific circuits to avoid issues, the typical symptom is sound does not follow actual speed.
So you have 2 issues:
Cannot run the Sierra over 12 volts
Need to "process" the motor "signal" for voltage and isolation from the too high track voltage, thus too high motor voltage.
email me and I will send you the technical notes you need.
It's not simple.
Greg
OK, I went back over what you said and talked to a buddy.
You have some conceptual missteps.
1. if you have a battery as you say, it goes into pins 4 and 2.... the battery directly to 4 and 2, as in the schematic above.
2. if your battery is over 12 volts, then you need to reduce it, again as in the schematic above, U1 is the regulator to drop the voltage.
3. you indicate you are feeding the circuit with the Revolution motor outputs WRONG!!!!
4. you indicate you are feeding the Revolution motor outputs to a buck converter WRONG!!! you cannot feed a DC regulator PWM!!!!
Battery >> buck converter (output 12v or less) >>> pins 4 (positive) and pin 2 (negative)
chuff contacts to pins 11 and 12
Change anything and it won't work... if you use autochuff you need the opto isolator
Read my page on the chuff contacts in the shay, they are crap.
Sierra page:
elmassian.com
Shay page:
elmassian.com
Greg
You have some conceptual missteps.
1. if you have a battery as you say, it goes into pins 4 and 2.... the battery directly to 4 and 2, as in the schematic above.
2. if your battery is over 12 volts, then you need to reduce it, again as in the schematic above, U1 is the regulator to drop the voltage.
3. you indicate you are feeding the circuit with the Revolution motor outputs WRONG!!!!
4. you indicate you are feeding the Revolution motor outputs to a buck converter WRONG!!! you cannot feed a DC regulator PWM!!!!
Battery >> buck converter (output 12v or less) >>> pins 4 (positive) and pin 2 (negative)
chuff contacts to pins 11 and 12
Change anything and it won't work... if you use autochuff you need the opto isolator
Read my page on the chuff contacts in the shay, they are crap.
Sierra page:
Soundtraxx Sierra
Greg Elmassian web site on large scale trains and garden railroads, cigars, and computers
Shay page:
0-4-4-0 Bachmann 2 Truck Shay
Greg Elmassian web site on large scale trains and garden railroads, cigars, and computers
Greg
Paul you might give Tony Walsham a try here Remote Control Systems - RCS Australia
While I understand he has had some health problems, in the recent past, his website is still active and he has started listing rc/battery options again. He supplied me 2-3 years ago a device, the SSI-9, that was specifically conceived to deal with the issues you are encountering i.e. it " smoothes out" an ESC's PWM output and has a separate circuit that acts as a voltage regulator. Only problem is they are out of production now but Tony might be able to advise you of their construction.
Below is a picture of a device with the same purpose(s), fitted to my Accucraft K-27, that has an ECU outputting PWM and a Sierra card. It was made for me by a fellow forumite John Scanlon (johnS) Sadly he does not appear on here any more. The detail may be sufficient for you to identify it's components. Board described is top right of image, inputs on this board - top right from battery (looks like a buck to me) bottom right from ESC. Outputs, corresponding on left of board, both go to Sierra from ESC to 7&8, the others are to the battery connected volume switch and ground. There is another config' where the volume switch is eliminated which I have used on other Sierra installations with battery. Hope this information adds something. Max
While I understand he has had some health problems, in the recent past, his website is still active and he has started listing rc/battery options again. He supplied me 2-3 years ago a device, the SSI-9, that was specifically conceived to deal with the issues you are encountering i.e. it " smoothes out" an ESC's PWM output and has a separate circuit that acts as a voltage regulator. Only problem is they are out of production now but Tony might be able to advise you of their construction.
Below is a picture of a device with the same purpose(s), fitted to my Accucraft K-27, that has an ECU outputting PWM and a Sierra card. It was made for me by a fellow forumite John Scanlon (johnS) Sadly he does not appear on here any more. The detail may be sufficient for you to identify it's components. Board described is top right of image, inputs on this board - top right from battery (looks like a buck to me) bottom right from ESC. Outputs, corresponding on left of board, both go to Sierra from ESC to 7&8, the others are to the battery connected volume switch and ground. There is another config' where the volume switch is eliminated which I have used on other Sierra installations with battery. Hope this information adds something. Max
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You do not need the opto isolater circuit if you run the chuff cam, as Paul indicated.
Paul, can you answer the questions I raised?
Greg
Paul, can you answer the questions I raised?
Greg
hi visiting this topic again??
i have made up 3 cell lithium ion packs to run with my sierra sound boards, am i correct in saying that i can remove my 6v NiCad's to power the sierra board ,and run the sound board from my 11.5 lithium ion pack to pins 2 and pin 4 on the sierra board????advice appreciated here please.
hi visiting this topic again??
i have made up 3 cell lithium ion packs to run with my sierra sound boards, am i correct in saying that i can remove my 6v NiCad's to power the sierra board ,and run the sound board from my 11.5 lithium ion pack to pins 2 and pin 4 on the sierra board????advice appreciated here please.
Paul, post #23 answers this..
A freshly-charged 3S pack is a little over 12V, but I don't believe this will be a problem for your application?
PhilP
A freshly-charged 3S pack is a little over 12V, but I don't believe this will be a problem for your application?
PhilP
hi philp thanks for reply ,,do you have any experience using the Revolution receivers?
You can find some of my notes re these that I have fitted in the battery threads.