I think I killed my turntable...

[SkipGear]

There is more in the bridge than just the motor. There is also an optical reader with a wheel that is geared to the motor to count RPM and get the bridge to line up. There has to be more than just power to the motor. There is some sort of feedback loop from the sensor to the controler and then the motor. Do you think maybe you got dirt on the optical sensor and it doesn't see movement so it shuts down to protect itself?

[alhoop]

"Do you think maybe you got dirt on the optical sensor and it doesn't see movement so it shuts down to protect itself?"

Not the way it works Skip. there is a PIC on the bridge and I think one on the controller. The optical sensor only comes into play when the turntable is searching for the zero point. Cover your optical sensor up and see if the table doesn't work normally except it cannot find the zero point.

From the manual:
"IF THE BRIDGE WON’T STOP ON THE ZERO POINT;
 The small Zero Point Reader opening on the end of the bridge and side
of pit may be blocked. Remove any dirt or other debris from the opening."
Al

[SkipGear]

I seem to remember there is also an optical wheel in the bridge itself that is used to sense how far the bridge has moved. It is geared to the motor and revolves x number of times for every revolution of the motor. The zero point is the home to start counting from but after that, the bridge itself does the work.

[alhoop]

Bite my tongue - I'm wrong and you are right  skipgear - there is a sensor associated with the motor counting wheel and if it gets clogged up the bridge will probably not move. My Bad!!!
The above statement is not true either. If the  counting wheel gets clogged up the bridge will still move, it just won't stop at the correct programmed location.
Al

[pnolan48]

What would be a decent price for this controller?

I doubt I'll ever get the full railroad up and running again, so I may have this controller to sell. Which means my roundhouse will only be a display piece. If I can find the controller in all the boxes . . .

I hate to start piecemealing out my railroad, but unforeseen infirmities are catching up to me really quickly.

[wm3798]

I have no idea about a fair price, as Walther's doesn't offer it as a separate part.  I emailed them about this, and am in the "within two to three business days" cycle waiting for a reply.

In either case, my thinking is I should be able to bypass the indexing altogether by hotwiring across the electronics.  I don't know if it was dirt or what, but I could rarely get the damn thing to line up where it's supposed to anyway, and in the end, I just cleared all the pre-sets and just manually lined it up.  I just want a power feed directly to the motor so it runs at the same speed, so I can run it with a simple power source and switch.

Lee

[pnolan48]

Lee,

I have no idea myself. We should probably take this private. I'm not here that much, so probably my gmail address is best. And I'm not home a lot these days, due to infirmities for both Kay and me, so be patient. I'm not even sure I can find the controller in the chaos 'round here.

[wm3798]

Thanks, Pete.  I'll shoot you my email via PM.
Lee