A couple BS2 basic electronic engineering questions ( i think)
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Posts: 46,084
I am new guy to the world of electronics. I have taken moderate
engineering in college (days ago...) and I have a CIS degree.
I am really getting into using the Basic Stamp 2 to help me learn
things and get better. I have some basic questions, I could really
use some help on - if anyone would be willing to donate a few
seconds, I would really appreciate it!
First of all, the project is control my model railroad.
1.) Is there a way to use a serial signal to control a voltage
signal of between (0-14V) by using the BS2. I have a 120VAC power
supply running through a bridge rec. and a capacitor for cleaning. I
want this variable output voltage to be able to speed up and slow
down the trains on the track and be set by the BS2. I know there are
solid state resistors, but I have not found any that seem to be able
to handle that type of load.
2.) Is there a solid-state device to create a DPDT switch. As a
compliment to question number 1, I need to be able to reverse the
polarity on the track at any given moment to change train directions.
3.) As I am new to electronics, can anyone recomend a good book with
more of an example type ephasis. I am good at math, but it seems all
the books I find deal only in math. I learn better with practical
examples and I just can't seem to find that type of (electronics for
dummys) book.
Thank you so much for your imput and for your suggestions.
Josh
engineering in college (days ago...) and I have a CIS degree.
I am really getting into using the Basic Stamp 2 to help me learn
things and get better. I have some basic questions, I could really
use some help on - if anyone would be willing to donate a few
seconds, I would really appreciate it!
First of all, the project is control my model railroad.
1.) Is there a way to use a serial signal to control a voltage
signal of between (0-14V) by using the BS2. I have a 120VAC power
supply running through a bridge rec. and a capacitor for cleaning. I
want this variable output voltage to be able to speed up and slow
down the trains on the track and be set by the BS2. I know there are
solid state resistors, but I have not found any that seem to be able
to handle that type of load.
2.) Is there a solid-state device to create a DPDT switch. As a
compliment to question number 1, I need to be able to reverse the
polarity on the track at any given moment to change train directions.
3.) As I am new to electronics, can anyone recomend a good book with
more of an example type ephasis. I am good at math, but it seems all
the books I find deal only in math. I learn better with practical
examples and I just can't seem to find that type of (electronics for
dummys) book.
Thank you so much for your imput and for your suggestions.
Josh
Comments
How many watts are you dealing with: If it is under 100 I would consider using a
BUCK CONVERTER as used in switching power supplies. MUCH information about this
switching topology can be found on the Texas Instruments web page. By
controlling the duty cycle of a pulse going into the base / gate of a transistor
you can control the output voltage. As far as solid state polarity reversal is
concerned I would construct a complimentary buck converter which outputs a
negative voltage that turns on through a user control. You would have to program
some protection logic into the basic stamp so when one of the converters is on
the other one is off. I also think going with two seperate buck converters would
be cheaper than using a solid state relay.
Good Luck!
-=Randy Knutson
trainguy1228 wrote:I am new guy to the world of electronics. I have taken
moderate
engineering in college (days ago...) and I have a CIS degree.
I am really getting into using the Basic Stamp 2 to help me learn
things and get better. I have some basic questions, I could really
use some help on - if anyone would be willing to donate a few
seconds, I would really appreciate it!
First of all, the project is control my model railroad.
1.) Is there a way to use a serial signal to control a voltage
signal of between (0-14V) by using the BS2. I have a 120VAC power
supply running through a bridge rec. and a capacitor for cleaning. I
want this variable output voltage to be able to speed up and slow
down the trains on the track and be set by the BS2. I know there are
solid state resistors, but I have not found any that seem to be able
to handle that type of load.
2.) Is there a solid-state device to create a DPDT switch. As a
compliment to question number 1, I need to be able to reverse the
polarity on the track at any given moment to change train directions.
3.) As I am new to electronics, can anyone recomend a good book with
more of an example type ephasis. I am good at math, but it seems all
the books I find deal only in math. I learn better with practical
examples and I just can't seem to find that type of (electronics for
dummys) book.
Thank you so much for your imput and for your suggestions.
Josh
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[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
direct advice, but a quick Google search turned up some stuff that may well
be of use to you. The best link seemed to be this PDF which is a Basic Stamp
1 project doing pretty much exactly what you describe:
http://www.pond.ie/ftp/stamp1_apps/trains.pdf
You may find some more links that are useful at this Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=model+train+variable+volta
ge+control+basic+stamp
I wish I could help more, but I hope that gives you some starting points.
.steve
http://www.cookstour.org
trainguy1228 wrote:
> I am new guy to the world of electronics. I have taken moderate
> engineering in college (days ago...) and I have a CIS degree.
>
> I am really getting into using the Basic Stamp 2 to help me learn
> things and get better. I have some basic questions, I could really
> use some help on - if anyone would be willing to donate a few
> seconds, I would really appreciate it!
>
researching these leads ASAP. So much great information! Thanks!
--- In basicstamps@y..., "Cookstour" <cookie@y...> wrote:
> As I'm also pretty new to the whole world of electronics I don't
have any
> direct advice, but a quick Google search turned up some stuff that
may well
> be of use to you. The best link seemed to be this PDF which is a
Basic Stamp
> 1 project doing pretty much exactly what you describe:
> http://www.pond.ie/ftp/stamp1_apps/trains.pdf
>
> You may find some more links that are useful at this Google search:
> http://www.google.com/search?
sourceid=navclient&q=model+train+variable+volta
> ge+control+basic+stamp
>
> I wish I could help more, but I hope that gives you some starting
points.
>
> .steve
>
>
> http://www.cookstour.org
>
>
>
> trainguy1228 wrote:
> > I am new guy to the world of electronics. I have taken moderate
> > engineering in college (days ago...) and I have a CIS degree.
> >
> > I am really getting into using the Basic Stamp 2 to help me learn
> > things and get better. I have some basic questions, I could
really
> > use some help on - if anyone would be willing to donate a few
> > seconds, I would really appreciate it!
> >