Smooth, hands free operation is very important & fun to me where I can get it, so I have spent a LOT of time experimenting with magnetic uncoupling using a variety of magnet types & Atlas versus Microtrains trucks. By MY experimentation, earth magnets (Radio Shack) at the joiner on each rail offers the most power for uncoupling. Does anyone agree? Disagree?
USING THE EARTH MAGNETS I find uncoupling to be near %100 smooth using stock atlas trucks & accumate couplers, but using stock unadjusted Microtrains, there is about a %50 uncoupling rate, something about the combination that makes the coupler pins get pulled toward only 1 magnet, the two knuckles “fight” between the two polls but often dont seperate easily. In all honesty, I get about the same performance using the Kadee magnet, never been consistently impressed.
I am now drastically thinking I should just convert to ALL accumate, but that is pricey.
Any suggestions?
What have others found the best?
Thanks a bunch guys
Lee
I seem to have more issues with the Accumates myself. They pull out of the coupler boxes on occasion or they just don’t couple / uncouple all that well sometimes. It’s not real bad, but more then with the MT’s.
As for the rare earth vs. other magnets…I’ve started experimenting with that as well. The rare earth (radio shack) magnets seem to be better, but they seem to work best if they’re positioned at about a 45 degree angle in relation to the track from each other. I haven’t worked out the final spacing yet though. I’m still goofing with that. If you come up with something better, do tell!
MT’s are a lot more reliable in the end which is why all my stuff has MT’s equipped. I don’t even run a piece of rolling stock or engine until they are converted. Whether it is long strings of cars or any kind of grades I’ve seen Accumates fail while the MT’s just work.
As for the rare earth magnets they work but they have to be in a perticular setup to work properly. The best way I’ve seen is 4 magnets in a square pattern. I have a pdf file showing what I mean that if you pm with your e-mail I can send it to you.
A square, huh? I’ll have to try that.
I find that the Accumate’s work much better with the rare earth magnets. It’s all I use now.
My magnets are round and fit in the space under the joiner of code 80 track. they are right under each rail.
I bought 25 on line for about 5 bucks or so.
work very well.
The MT’s worked about 50% of the time for me.
your mileage may vary.
Thanks everybody, this is really helping me skirt out my choices.
I put together a 4-earth magnet rig & indeed it DOES work fantastically with MT trucks, almost %100 of the time, BUT I do notice the knuckles often do NOT stay open for spotting cars.
The other option is to stick with accumates & rare earth magnets placed between Atlas track segments (a perfect fit), as my tests show the most consistent operations, both uncoupling & ‘spotting positions’/open knuckles when over magnets.
Still experimenting with the 4 earth arrangement & subtle adjustment.
Lee
But wait, are Atlas trucks able to fit Microtrains cars? Uh oh.
Lee