I just wanted to thank everybody for their input on constructing a blower to get rid of the leaves, etc. from my layout.
To build it I used an old Aristo 40’ boxcar bottom, a 12 vdc Boat Bilge Blower, a 12 v 18 a dc voltage regulator to control the bilge blower’s speed, and a 12vdc 5000 mah NiMH battery. The car is using standard Aristo Trucks, although the wheels are ball bearing equipped to handle the weight of the car. The car does weigh in around 11 pounds. I am going to try and include some pix. I will be dressing it up slightly, but this is built for function, not beauty.
Right click on the image, select “copy image location” then paste it into your message here. should work.
I am having a heck of a time doing this. I have 5 pix, but can’t upload them.
First are they loaded someplace on line like photobucket?
I navigated to your ForumFiles folder, displayed the pic, then copied the URL and pasted it here…
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-642S.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-643S.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-644S.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-645S.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-646S.JPG)
Nice blower 
Noel looks like it should do the job. Nice work. Have you tested it against ballast removal?
Hi Dave,
Thank you.
I have tested it. When I first started looking into this I was told that it will blow the ballast away, SOOO! I looked into getting a speed regulator. I knew what the blower was going to be, so, I had to make sure that the regulator that I got would work with 12 volts and at least 4 amps. Guess what, not to many out there, but Dave Bodnar suggested a unit from Hong Kong that is rated at 12 volts and 18 amps. It cost a total of $18, including shipping. The silver box in the middle is the regulator. It has an input (12 v battery, 5000 mah), an output to the motor, and three wires to a potentiometer, which controls the speed of the motor. I did add a spst toggle, and a 4 amp fuse to round things out. I have adjusted the pot so it cleans well, without removing the ballast. I probably did overkill with the battery, but to negotiate the two loops and all of the sidings and classification yard takes almost an hour, so I have enough power to run it for about two hours. I also use it in conjunction with Bill’s RailSweeper set up, a great team.
Noel
Jon,
Thank you.
Can you go over the step by step from my forum files to displaying them. Steve had suggested “Right click on the image, select “copy image location” then paste it into your message here. should work.” I went to my Freight Shed folder, found the pix, but could not find “copy image location.” I have a MAC, but I don’t think that should be the problem, I think it’s more of a me problem.
Thank you again.
Noel
Nice work on the blower. Sure does look like it will do the job.
Ralph
Noel:
"Copy File Location is not a choice on the page, but rather is a pop out menu that appears when you ‘right click’ on the file name. That will present a pop out menu that includes “copy link.” This is the same as a PC’s “copy file location.”
If you have an Apple Mighty Mouse, clicking on the right side of the touch sensitive top accesses ‘right click.’
If using a single button mouse, hold down the ‘control’ key on the bottom row of the keyboard and click on the file name. On a Mac using a single button mouse, the ‘control key + mouse click’ is always equivalent to ‘right click’ on a PC.
Hope this helps.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
Freight Sheds are getting an overhaul, and will have easier-to-copy-pasta URLs, too. Stay tuned.
Hi Jerry,
Thank you.
I have right clicked on the file in the freight sheds list (.jpg files), and I get “copy link”, but what do I do then? I tried pasting it, and I got a URL, not a picture. Sorry to bother you so much, but I really do appreciate your help.
Noel
Noel Arnold said:Picture posting with a MAC can be problematic. Doug Arnold had the same problem, got it to work once, but hasn't since. I can't help you with MAC. Sorry.
[i][/i]I have a MAC[i][/i]
I use a PC and Firefox. I went to your Forumfiles folder, opened each image full size by clicking on it, then copied the URL from my browse and pasted it in the message. LSC only needs a URL to display a JPG image, no tags of any kind are needed.
Go ahead and post the URL you get and let’s see what happens.
First wondering if you could post the links to where you ordered the blower and the controller? I’d like to build one someday too. I have also wondered over the last few years on each “version” of the blower car if the “angle of attack” made a difference or if anyone bother to test that “function” of the equation in terms of blowing ballast away? Just curious about that?
Chas
Hi Chas,
Hope I can help.
The DC motor speed control comes from VintageVillage.com, and is their SKU 003601-055, 12v 15a. motor speed controller, price is $18.99, including shipping.
The blower is the Rule 3" inline bilge blower, 12 vdc 2.9 a, Price varies, but just search for the Rule 3" in-line blower and you will come up with all kinds of sources. There are 3" and 4" blowers, along with a variety of voltages, make sure you get the 12 volt one.
I haven’t come up with an angle for the best results, but the speed control does deal with any problems you might have with blowing ballast, whereas without it, you’ll be pushing ballast all over the place.
Hope this information helps.
I do want to let you know, Dave Bodnar has been very helpful with regards to the electronics for this project, as well as other electronic jobs I have tackled.
Noel
I’ll bet it’d really go fast if you took that loco out of the way!
I don’t know how fast it would go, but it does move quite well going backwards using the blower. Doesn’t clean the track to well, however.
Noel,
Vintagevillage was not right but I searched the SKU you provided and found it at Virtualvillage.com. Thanks! Next paycheck I’ll start collecting pieces!
Chas
Ahhhhh! Ductape, the solution to fixing almost anything!! Looking good! LOL Regal
Chas,
Sorry for the wrong URL, the hurrider I go the behinder I get. Glad you found it.
Jerry, thank you for the links, great.