For want of a part, a Locobuffer is delayed...

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

HELP!

I can’t figure out what this stupid part is called so I can order one off the web! [xx(]

This is what I get for being cheap and ordering the Locobuffer board-only.

Famous Last Words overheard ~7 weeks ago:
“Hey, I’ve done plenty of soldering, and it’s got a complete parts list, how can I go wrong?” [:p]

Anyone out there got any hints on what to call this in a search engine so I can find someone with them in stock? I can’t honestly say money is no object, since if I meant that, I could have bought a pre-built Locobuffer II, right?

But I just had to go and save a buck…

(faint mutters about how this is all supposed to be relaxing…)

On the bright side, I started covering Mount Pinkie with plaster cloth this weekend. The Four-Year-Old boss of the house is having a little too much fun spraying it with water to activate it. [:D]

Brian Pickering

2

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?Ref=23577&Row=312715&Site=US

Click on catalog information, then you can see a photo.

3

Perfectamundo! [:D]

Now I’ve just gotta find:

  • RJ12 jacks (all sorts of ADAPTERS, but jacks have been scarce at three dealers I’ve been searching for everything through…
  • the 20MHz oscillator crystal. All of Digikey’s were in FOUR-pin square packages, while the board uses a THREE-pin in-line package.

Next best thing to scratch-building, I guess. [:p]

Brian

4

Which Locobuffer are you building? If you are using Hans DeLoof’s board, I hae a complete parts list with all the part numbers for Mouser - I prefer Mouser over Digikey because there is no extra ‘handling charge’ for small orders under $25, you can order as much or as little from Mouser and you pay just the part costs plus shipping based on weight.
I also have all the parts listed for Hans’ LocoIO.

–Randy

5

Make sure those are 5.08mm spacing on the terminals. Mouser’s number is 571-2828374.

20MHz crystal is 815-AB-20-B2

The modular jacks are 571-520470-3

The DB9 connector is 571-7478444

On mine I left out the parts associated with the Loconet current source: R9, R10, T2, T3, and J6.

–Randy

6

so is it actually cheaper to build it than to buy it ? by how much if so ?

7

Radio Shack does carry those screw terminals from the original post. Yeah, you can get them a lot cheaper elsewhere, but if that’s all you’re buying, then you may end up spending more for shipping than for the parts.

8

Probably not! [:D]

Especially when S&H for several sources (finding time to order everything at once wore me out, I ended up placing three orders total, including the current one from Mouser [ps… thanks, guys!].

Bare card and PIC, ordered from Europe: USD29,81
AllElectronics.com (parts): $17.25
Digikey (more parts): $13.69
Mouser (still more parts*): $1.68, plus some other stuff I’ll order while I’m out there.

Total: $62.43, or thereabouts. You can probably do a little better if you have the spare time, or stamna, to keep searching until you hit on a single supplier who can get all the items to you. As I said, I spent two, two-hour evenings online looking for the “right parts”, and still couldn’t find a couple. Not to say (for certain) that said suppliers didn’t have the parts, just that I’m not smart-enough to find them.[:o)]

Pre-built LocoBufferII (includes case, a luxury I won’t have…)
http://www.rr-cirkits.com/description.html
Part # LocoBuffer-II
(Buffered Serial Interface unit and 14’ LocoNet® cable) (MSRP $69.95) + $5 S&H

So, I’ve saved a whopping $12.52. Whoopee. I can eat lunch out one of these days.

Moral of the story: I’m doing this because I want to assemble some electronics, not because I’m looking for a deal. :slight_smile:

Again, thanks to all who contributed. I actually hit up RS today after work, and didn’t see the power connector. Nor did I see the oscillator crystal or RJ jacks.

Lots of RC cars, over-priced telephones, and so-forth. [:p] Somehow, going into RS just isn’t the same as when I was 10 or 12…

Brian

  • “And that’s when I shot him, Your Honor.” Brownie points if anyone knows the TV series to which I’m referring…
9

Randy,

You know, if it’s not too much effort, I would appreciate those parts lists. One, it would be a nice reality check for the parts I ordered (20 years since my last digital electronics class… I’m more than a little rusty), and Two, I may (someday) be enough of a masochist to decide to build the LocoIO as well.

Loco… hmmm, descriptive?

Nah…

Brian “They’re coming to take me away…” Pickering

10

Crystal: Digikey 300-6042-ND the centre lead is not necessary, it i sused to ground the case.

RJ12 or 6P6C modular jack: Digikey r A9079-ND

John