BLI Alco RSD-15

[bigdawgks]

In the back of my mind I'm designing a Paragon [whatever] to Next18 conversion board for plug-and-play. I don't have the tools, skills or contacts to do it in a reasonable amount of time, but it's certainly occupying my thoughts at the moment.

Yea I would really be interested in such a thing if someone out there has both the desire and skills to design one. It's pretty easy to pull out the BLI decoders thanks to their use of mini JST style connectors, so an adapter board doesn't seem all that complex.

[peteski]

Yea I would really be interested in such a thing if someone out there has both the desire and skills to design one. It's pretty easy to pull out the BLI decoders thanks to their use of mini JST style connectors, so an adapter board doesn't seem all that complex.

Assuming that there will be enough vertical clearance for a mother/daughter board combo.  Usually vertical clearance is a problem in N scale.  We are talking about 2 PC boards, plus the thickness of the Next 18 connector.

[C855B]

Assuming that there will be enough vertical clearance for a mother/daughter board combo.  Usually vertical clearance is a problem in N scale.  We are talking about 2 PC boards, plus the thickness of the Next 18 connector.

Well, there's definitely enough clearance in the RSD-15, at least. I just received the LokPilot 5 Micros the morning and am astounded by how small they are. Judging from the pictures of the LokSound 5 Micro, they'd be an easy fit, too.

[bigdawgks]

Assuming that there will be enough vertical clearance for a mother/daughter board combo.  Usually vertical clearance is a problem in N scale.  We are talking about 2 PC boards, plus the thickness of the Next 18 connector.

In my experience the Paragon decoders already take up a lot of vertical space due to said connectors. But I believe they may be sufficiently long to fit a LokSound N18 board on one end and wire connectors on the other; assuming both are mounted on the same surface they should not take up much additional vertical space. And if not, I think hardwiring to the adapter board should leave enough space for the decoder.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Do we even need a conventional daughter board? You could design an adapter that uses a flat ribbon cable to attach the Next18, and solder micro PC boards to the cable at the attachment points and electrical/lighting/sound points.

[bobdobbs]

Hi

A couple of crude videos of my new BLI RSD 15's.  I have had no issues with them.  I have not tried to MU them with non BLI locos. 
https://youtu.be/IAxN7ds4EUg
https://youtu.be/maGYih2Qj2E

[CBQ Fan]

I ordered a refurbished Santa Fe unit yesterday. For that price I will add it to my roster, but not the hobby shop discounted price. I will be interested to see how it does on the layout.

[spookshow]

I'm having some height issues with the rear coupler that have resulted in some random uncouplings -



Front coupler is fine. Anybody else run into this?

Thanks,
-Mark

[bobdobbs]

I'm having some height issues with the rear coupler that have resulted in some random uncouplings -



Front coupler is fine. Anybody else run into this?

Thanks,
-Mark

Not yet..

[spookshow]

I'm thinking I could probably fix it by bending that protrusion off the chassis where the coupler box screws in. But yikes, it looks breakable.



-Mark

[C855B]

Oh, it sure as heck looks like it'll snap off the moment you put real pressure on it. Since it's a cast metal of some sort, it's going to be brittle.

If you can, hold off until later this evening. I have one of mine apart to trace wires and can eyeball the frame-body situation. I'll also check the other ones to see if they have the same issue.

[peteski]

Since the coupler is too high, maybe just add a styrene shim between the top of the coupler box and the chassis.  Hopefully this is one-of problem.
Like Mike mentioned, I would not attempt to bend down that pot metal  frame.  Instant breakage!

The truck might not be properly installed. Are both couplers too high, or just the rear one? 

[C855B]

Just the rear one. Here are three I have (a fourth is disassembled). As you can see, one of the rears is misaligned. No clue about the problem until I take it apart.

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[spookshow]

Evidently my issue is with the actual coupler. I put the bad rear coupler on the front and the problem followed it.

-Mark

[spookshow]

Are both couplers too high, or just the rear one?

I'm going to go all Peteski on you and tell you to go back and re-read my original post 

-Mark