Model train lighting - sinewave power generator for hi-fi train lighting

11-28 — elektor november 1982 model train lighting A look at various solutions One could, for example, construct a multiple rail system which would carry both the locomotive supply voltage and the lighting supply voltage; that would surely be too expensive. An overhead line plus one of the two rails could also be used for the lighting supply voltage. This method is less complicated, but the overhead line is usually employed for independent operation with two trains. The same applies to any third rail in the system. It is also possible to use dry batteries but this method must be ruled out because of the cost. Rechargeable NiCd batteries cannot be employed on account of their price, shape and weight. Furthermore, that method would require a bridge rectifier. Half-wave operation is worth consider- ing. A sinewave can be divided into two half-waves. The motor is activated for the duration of one half-wave and the lighting for the duration of the other. This method can be applied qu...