john2003 Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I know the actual Dublo track is 12v DC but am unsure of the accessories. I have a number of signals as well as the mail coach that picks up and drops the mailbag. My local hobby shop said it would be AC but I have my doubts . Can someone confirm?, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Welcome to the forum John. The old Hornby Dublo electric points and electric signals do require a separate uncontrolled 15v AC supply to operate them. That is sometimes provided on your transformer/controller in addition to the DC output for your trains. Have a look and don't hesitate to come back if you cannot resolve this matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2003 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Yes my controller does have an AC output. I had connected this to the mail bag system and it seemed to mess up the train operation. I thought that as the mail car picked up the neutal from the rail that this was maybe the problem. Perhaps I don't know how to wire it. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I can't really comment on the Hornby Dublo Royal Mail Operating system because I have never seen it. I used to have a Tri-ang one, though, and that didn't need any electricity to work it. The coach had levers underneath which struck permanent ramps between the rails. One automatically snatched at a bag, even if it wasn't there, and the delivery bin part also operated like that, as far as I remember. Are you saying that yours needs electricity to, say, give you the choice of raising and lowering such ramps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Are they like the two shown in this list, which are both just mechanical?http://www.vintagemodeltrains.biz/contents/en-uk/d153_dublo3railcoach.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2003 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 It is like #15542. Has a push button and two terminals. The coach has to open a drop down door and has a pickup rail on the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 The Hornby Dublo 2400 / 2401 mail coach works by a solenoid in the coach which is energised by a current supplied from the extra outside third rail on the mail coach apparatus track and a 'common' return to one of the rails. If you attach the switch wire only to the terminals on this track AND your 15 v AC supply is truely independent of the track supply it ought not to interfere withg the treaction supply. Some modern power units may not have a truely independent supply, so you need to check this. The coach also needs to run the correct way round, so that the pick up shoe is the same side as the contact rail. Do you still have the instruction leaflet?There may of course be an internal fault in the coach or the lineside apparatus, causing a short circuit, whether this is the case can only be deduced by inspection and testing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 John, hi, i have working Dublo mail coach running. As LC says, all fairly simple, 15 v ac supply, normally found on most controllers. I dont use a switch, wires connected to pick up rail terminals. Train has to pass right way, to pick up, mail bag, then drop on next pass. I have never heard of signals, being used, but mine is the oginal 3 rail system. Also, run the 2 rail, system, but thats a bit hit and miss. Mail bags go anywhere. Secret is to use lead bags, which happlily drop in container.. Any problems, post back. You can bench test it, with spare 3 rail track, before setting up. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2003 Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 Thanks for info. At least I now know that I am using the correct power. I remove it and do some bench testing as suggested. I still have the two original heavy (lead?) mail bags so it should work fine if I can figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 John, its really very basic, do you have other 3 rail stuff. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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