RCX controlled deCoupler and reverse loop

[mikezang]

This is simple project, there are only two RCXs, one is on mobile deCoupler, one is to control switch track and power on track.you can find IR communication between two RCXs.

With PF system, maybe this mobile deCoupler is useless, but it was not a bad idea before PF:)

[JopieK]

Very nice mikezang, the RCX still has a lot of advantages with 9V trains!!!

[mikezang]

Very nice mikezang, the RCX still has a lot of advantages with 9V trains!!!

Yeah, but now PF is main, I am thinking to use RCXs and EV3 to control combined PF and 9v system.

[JopieK]

PF makes a reverse loop at least very easy of course ;)

[mikezang]

I want to continue using 9v train motor and modify this motor to pick up power from track, so that a lot of my 9v tracks and motors can be used like before.

In such combined tracks with metal and plastic, 9v train motor and PF motor all can be used.

But I never modified motor, do you think it is easy to modify?

[JopieK]

I think you mean PF instead of 9V. The PF motors are indeed a lot easier to open than 9V motors.

About 9V motor modifications: people have made then DCC compatible: http://home.surewest.net/markril/lego/dcc/ and http://www.lgauge.com/trains/dcc/dcc14mar00.htm

For PF you need to have power pickups of some sort indeed. If you can create metal wheels on a milling machine, that would be a good option, but you will need to connect the moving parts to the non-moving parts (using e.g. coal brushes).

This is a nice tutorial like topic about this:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=67767