Author Topic: AM-1 vs AM-1b  (Read 27755 times)

faithie999

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 163
AM-1 vs AM-1b
« on: November 26, 2022, 03:21:46 PM »
what is the difference between the AM-1 and -1b?

thanks

ken

G8B4Life

  • Signalman (Global Mod)
  • Conductor
  • *****
  • Posts: 1236
  • I'll think of a catchy tag line one day
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2022, 07:49:10 PM »
Essentially nothing, unless your going to buy second hand.

The AM-1b is a revision of the AM-1 (just like the HC-2b is a revision of the HC-2) and while Ring, retailers etc just call it the AM-1 you can't buy the old AM-1 new anymore, except perhaps if a retailer has some exceptionally old stock you'd be getting an AM-1b.

The difference was that the old AM-1 was basically just a turnout controller whereas the newer AM-1b can be a turnout controller or a proper accessory module that you can write programs for.

- Tim

faithie999

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 163
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2022, 10:15:40 AM »
thanks!

ON28

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 260
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2022, 02:19:35 PM »
Is it possible to write a program for the AM that will control and index a turntable? If so, how?

G8B4Life

  • Signalman (Global Mod)
  • Conductor
  • *****
  • Posts: 1236
  • I'll think of a catchy tag line one day
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2022, 04:14:57 AM »
Is it possible to write a program for the AM that will control and index a turntable? If so, how?

Partial yes. There is program already available to control a turntable with the AM-1; All you need to do is download it in RPA and put the program onto the AM-1. The program is just clockwise and counter clockwise movement though, no indexing.

I don't know how hard indexing would be to implement, I guess one of the inputs could be a trigger to stop rotating by using a hall effect sensor or something but that all requires experimentation.

How to write accessory programs is all in the RPA manual however I'd suggest downloading a couple of the ready made programs and studying them along with reading the manual to see how the programs work.

- Tim

ON28

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 260
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2022, 10:59:20 AM »
Thanks for that! Maybe contacts or IR sensor on the stall track and turntable to light a light when properly aligned?
« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 11:02:30 AM by ON28 »

G8B4Life

  • Signalman (Global Mod)
  • Conductor
  • *****
  • Posts: 1236
  • I'll think of a catchy tag line one day
Re: AM-1 vs AM-1b
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2022, 06:41:42 AM »
That could be done rather simply I imagine and could probably be done without having to use the AM to do the indexing part, just the drive part.

Unfortunately at this time of the year I don't have the time to experiment with things like this (and don't own an AM-1) so probably can't help a whole lot with it.

- Tim