96RAF Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Would Hornby please update their conversion guides as there must be many locos that have a guide, probably hidden in someone's desk (pc) at HCC, that have not made it into the lists in the web Support Area.E.g. Class 395, HST, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 And check for accuracy. For example, the 0-4-0 guide says the motor is upside down so needs to be removed to get at the contacts, and that is no longer the case. Far fewer steps needed than shown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustus Caesar Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Great suggestion RAF96 and great point Fishy... loads of models have been converted and many YT videos are available but Hornby would do well to have this site area updated. If only because some popular models are not covered and one conversion does not fit all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 And stop telling people to wrap decoders in tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Yes, definitely use heatshrink, not electrical tape, and only needed if there is a chance the decoder will short to anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Yes, definitely use heatshrink, not electrical tape, and only needed if there is a chance the decoder will short to anything. Just for the information of those who may know about heatshrink sleeving.You can buy a single short length of sleeve from Hornby spares suppliers under the X5383 part number at over 2 GBP a piece, or you can go to the likes of Maplin and buy it in longer lengths in various diameters or even a selection box of various sizes at much better prices - see here http://www.maplin.co.uk/search?text=heashrink&x=19&y=14 You don't need to fully shrink it on when using it on a decoder just use it as loose protection. I do slightly shrink one end before inserting the decoder just to close it enough to stop the decoder poking through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I use Kapton (Polyimide Heat Resistant/High Temperature Adhesive Tape) on my decoder installations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Without wishing to alarm anyone, a little story about Kapton which has been used as insulation on aircraft wiring for many years.In a typical old generation aircraft style of large wire bundle (hundreds of wires together) it was found the insulation degraded if it had gotten wet from condensation or whatever.This allowed cables to short with each other causing electrical fires. The answer was to segregate the wire bundles into a more layered structure with air space between the layers. Problem solved.At our level of use there is little fear of such Kapton fireworks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I rarely take my locos up to 30,000 feet. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Mine regularly travel between Cyprus and UK. I've got to have something to do whilst SWMBO is looking after the grandkids at school holiday times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I didn't know there was a rail line between Cyprus and UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I didn't know there was a rail line between Cyprus and UK? Courtesy of Ryanair at 35,000 ft... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Clearly that one is on Skyhooks and not a baseboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Whilst I acknowledge the requirement of ventilation of decoders for heat dissapation, Why is electrical insulation tape disapproved, whilst heatshrink sleeving is OK? Electrical 'insulation' tape is not 'heat' insulation, any more than heatshrink compounds. I would have thought that fitting heatshrink loosely (unshrunk) to a decoder (ie limited physical contact) would be more detrimental. Heat disapation requires an adequate air flow contact with the decoder. Idealy, decoders should be left uncovered (naked), and insulation (electrical) should be attached to any areas that could possibly make physical (electrical) contact to the decoder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Insulation tape by its very nature will make close contact with the decoder components thus restricting any airflow, whereas unshrunk sleeving allows some airflow whilst providing protection.In addition (and this may be brand dependant) insulation tape adhesive tends to get very claggy after a while particularly if heated.Whilst a bare decoder mounted as you say would be absolutely fine in a large bodied loco such as a Railroad diesel I would rather mine were safely sleeved when installed in close quarters inside a steamer boiler, even with exposed metal loco parts taped over.Personal preference - so go with what you are happy with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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