RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion

Frog Juicers compatible with RailPro?

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Alan:
Sort of answered that in first reply. As mentioned earlier, their documentation leaves a lot to be desired. English is obviously not their native tongue.

From the manual:
1. Power input DC12V, AC 16V, DCC 18V
2. Acceptable for DC, AC and DCC power
3. Max current 4A for any scale layout

http://www.anemodel.com/Upload/Download/201509140818159669.pdf

This leads one to believe 14.2v should be fine. It accepts DCC 18v and since it works on DC it must be rectifying the DCC signal yielding 17.3v.

You will find out soon enough, eh?

JJ Crooke:
Thanks for the answer Alan. I needed a little bit more explanation in order to understand the DC12v vs DC14.2v vs DCC18v thingy. And yes, I chuckle a bit every time I read their manual but at least they're trying.

JJ Crooke:

--- Quote from: G8B4Life on July 13, 2016, 10:27:45 AM ---... I could possibly get v5 fairly easily though as a friend of mine carries ANE.

--- End quote ---

Would you mind sharing the info regarding that friend? If I ever decide to go with the SmartFrog, it may be easier for me to deal with a North American-based dealer than the Taiwan-based Ane.

G8B4Life:
Joel,

More than happy to share, but I'm afraid it's not quite what you think, myself and my friend are way over the duck pond, in Australia.

http://www.roadandrail.net

Looking at ANE's website, there are a few dealers in the US. Here is the link to them. Maybe one of them might  have the SmartFrog, or at least be able to get it.

http://anemodel.com/dealers_list.aspx

Alan,

I'm glad you liked my idea. I was thinking a bit more basic than your description though. I was thinking of simply detecting/using the voltage somehow; when a locomotive first bridges the insulating gap from the powered rail to the frog (same side of the locomotive) the frog will either have ~14v or 0v applied to it from rest of the locomotive pickups on that side. That much we know. I had thought that perhaps it'd be possible to use that voltage to simply turn on one of two transistors (one each for the correct polarity to apply to the frog). There is of course a bit more to it that would need to be worked out, like stopping the frog from being permanently on after first activation that my basic description provides.

Perhaps my way of thinking how to do it isn't workable. It sounded good in my head at least.

- Tim

Alan:

--- Quote ---the frog will either have ~14v or 0v applied to it
--- End quote ---

Relative to what potential? A completed circuit is required to detect current flow.

Where Power = Vcc or Gnd depending on train direction: Power --> Rail --> Wheel --> Frog --> Sensor --> ?

If "?" connected to Vcc then will be unable to sense when Gnd frog is required. If connected to Gnd then unable to sense when Vcc frog is required.

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