Office of Steam Logo_1

Author Topic: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969  (Read 169 times)

txlabman

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3592
  • Location: Plano, Texas
5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« on: December 10, 2019, 03:48:00 pm »
eBay impulse purchase for $100. I initially regretted the impulse. I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived. It is very well built and runs great. Other than giving it a good cleaning, I had to replace and rewire the light. The light that was on it was broken. The light came from Forum Member Kevin (eBay Seller “chinexlady”). Kevin makes some very well machined Steam Parts.  Highly Recommended.

I bought it because I thought it might power my DC HO Railroad. A project on which I have been working.  But the alternator/dynamo/generator doesn’t put out enough volts. That search continues.

I need one that will produce a minimum 6 volts. That’s the lowest I can get the train to run using my DC Power Supply. If anyone has one they want to sell, please PM me.



Nick

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 8116
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2019, 11:38:54 pm »
I remember that one from eBay, sure is a neat little setup.  8)  Do you not have a Psantama Blue Thunder?
Nick

txlabman

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3592
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2019, 05:20:10 am »
I do have one Nick. I hooked it up to my Stuart No. 8 but I didn’t get enough power. I will try it again with my Stuart No. 9.

Nick

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 8116
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2019, 06:36:29 am »
That is strange as my Fleischmann easily spins the blue thunder over to power my HO train... are you sure it’s the blue thunder and not one of the other models Peter sold?
Nick

classixs

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2427
  • Location: Jutland
    • www.SteamUp.dk
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2019, 06:56:27 am »
Love that bicycle dynamo Charlie, looks cool as it has been set up there :)

Agree with Nick, it does sound a bit off, if a Stuart 8 isn´t capable of powering a Blue Thunder sufficiently.

In terms of other capable generators, the Austrian gennys from Kurt Berger, or a standalone motor from Karsten Ginstchel (made to order, or salvaged from one of his Hammer accessories), should both be capable of powering a H0 setup as well.
(The Austrian genny will need a small cheap diodebridge installed to its outlet wires, but that´s very easily done)

Also if it´s a brand new DC train, i´d suggest that you look at an older used (lightweight) loco instead.
They have no sensitive electronics onboard, which could be what messes up your experiment.
Cheers
Jan
WEBSITE: SteamUp YOUTUBE: SteamUp

RedRyder

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4310
  • Location: Connecticut - USA
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2019, 07:06:09 am »
Nice rig, Charlie!


The bicycle generators do a nice job.


As Nick said, many of your toys should run your Blue Thunder.


Gil

Nick

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 8116
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2019, 08:11:17 am »
There was a Black Rhino that looks very similar, anyone know the details on that one? Could that be what you have?
Nick

Roscoe

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 173
  • Location: Northwest, Indiana
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2019, 09:45:15 am »
Glad you got that Charlie really wanted to see how it worked. All I knew was it made my bicycle hard to peddle, lol.
John

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: 5 Volt Generator & Steam Engine by John Sain 1969
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2019, 10:30:05 am »
Good "recycling"...😋
Bob