Electronics in Z scale posts

Fred wrote:

Mark, I would welcome Z electronics for dummies. Lighting buildings etc. Start with --"Plug it in".
Fred

Well, with this encouragement, I'm willing to write something up over the weekend and see how it goes over here.
Once I have something, I'm wondering where on Zcentralstation I should put it?
It seems to me forum posts scroll down over time and the same electronics questions get asked again (about every 4 months in the communities I visit).
I suppose a blog would work. But I think of a blog as more like a diary.
I could upload to the library but there doesn't seem to be a good category such as "New to Z" or "Electronics & Wiring" to put things. Also, the file upload misses out on the colabrative environment of the first two.

Any thoughs would be appreciated.

And Fred: I spent 3 years in a customer engineering position where the conversion with PHd engineers would frequently start with "Is it plugged in? Is it turned on? Can you see the green light in the back?"



Mark

Mark, Thanks for the comeback and efforts. I'm sure John and Stony can come up with something that will make your posts more accessable to all. ZCS is still in the growing stages and I know they wanted a "How To" section.
One of my projects was to make the paddel wheel on an old riverboat turn slowly. I thought maybe a motor that turns a Christmas Tree ornamant-- but never got farther then that.


I do have a complete paddle wheeel ( not cut at waterline).
Also an old mill water wheel, the blades of a helecopter, and windmill. all models built but due to lack of electronic abilities, remain static.
As more modelers enter Z scale, ZCS will become a more important resource tool. Best to start out with the basics.
Thanks again,
Fred

For some reason I can't upload steamboat foto- will try again.
Nope- No Luck- will try later.
Fred

Fred wrote:

One of my projects was to make the paddel wheel on an old riverboat turn slowly. I thought maybe a motor that turns a Christmas Tree ornamant-- but never got farther then that.


I do have a complete paddle wheeel ( not cut at waterline).
Also an old mill water wheel, the blades of a helecopter, and windmill. all models built but due to lack of electronic abilities, remain static.
Thanks again,
Fred

Fred,
Interesting. One of my projects is motorized windmills for my model Altamont Pass. I'm thinking an under table or disguisable motor running at about 10-100 RPM, perhaps a loco motor. My problem is figuring out how to do an appropriate universal joint at the top of the windmill.

Mark

You have a complete water wheel which can go through the water line. Have you considered a motorized wheel(tire) below the water line(under the table) that the water wheel rests on?

I am inspired by your work. Tom

John,
I was thinking of some similar but in the reverse: Write the "How to" and post it for comment before committing it to a library. I've scanned posts help and elsewhere and the problem I see is a lot of is topic drift: you have to go through a lot of posts to find the gems of knowledge. Anyway, I'm heading home so let me see what I can put together and we can see how it goes next week.

Mark