Oscillating Thunderbolt? (updated)

[Robert Gift]

Thanks for that interesting FS parts blow-up.
Does the chopper ever have that many openings?

For all the trouble of fabricating a brush electrical connection, I would
have the horn not turn.
I would wait until I found a real Thunderbolt brush assembly.

[JasonC]

For all the trouble of fabricating a brush electrical connection, I would
have the horn not turn.
I would wait until I found a real Thunderbolt brush assembly.

Nah, I want it to turn. And I like the challenge of building one to. And there is a slim to none chance of me finding a brush ring assembly for the 1003, even if I do, I'd more than likely find the whole 1003 head. It'll, get done one way or the other

[Justin]

Wait.... is this a motor control for oscillating the T-bolt or are you going back to making a brush ring assembly fro full 360 degree rotation?

Sliprings.

I would hate to see a Thunderbolt be handicapped to oscillate.

[JasonC]

Wait.... is this a motor control for oscillating the T-bolt or are you going back to making a brush ring assembly fro full 360 degree rotation?

Sliprings.

I would hate to see a Thunderbolt be handicapped to oscillate.

Interesting, but for one, there has to be 3 separate circuits (tone 1, tone 2, and common) so that wont work. And that is definitely something I cannot make at home with simple tools. Interesting idea though!

[Justin]

Wait.... is this a motor control for oscillating the T-bolt or are you going back to making a brush ring assembly fro full 360 degree rotation?

Sliprings.

I would hate to see a Thunderbolt be handicapped to oscillate.

Interesting, but for one, there has to be 3 separate circuits (tone 1, tone 2, and common) so that wont work. And that is definitely something I cannot make at home with simple tools. Interesting idea though!

Bah! Just use two insulators and three conductors.

Think of it as coax cable, same principle; except just using plastic pipe and copper tubing/rod.
Shouldn't be too hard to do, just need to get each layer to be close to the inner layer as possible, then glue.

[JasonC]

Alright, I still want to keep the original rotator motor parts and all without going DC. Now, I can do this, but I need a certain relay that I'm having trouble finding. I need a SPDT relay, that when triggered, will go from one pole, switch to off for about a second, then then switch other pole. This will allow the motor to come to a complete stop which is necessary to swap start and run windings to reverse the motor. How the relay is activated is unimportant. I've searched for this relay and have come up short, though I'm sure they make them.

Also, I've finished up drawing up my custom "RCM 1.3". I think this is the final revision. Lemme know if you see ANY flaws or areas of improvement.



Here's the circuit explanation:

1. 240VAC Mains power input

2. 30 amp fuses to provide power and protection for all control and power circuits (less the blower power circuit)

3. Blower motor contactor

4. Chopper and rotator contactor

5. Agastat DPDT Time Delay on break relay (time delays blower and solenoid circuits)

6. DPDT toggle switch for blower (with center off) (test/off/auto)

7. DPDT toggle switch (Rotator-Chopper test/auto)

8. Timer input (SC common, S1 is the air raid circuit, S2 if for the solenoid circuit)

9. 240-120VAC auto transformer for chopper speed (note: little box with "xxxx" to the left is a 120v mechanical counter and pilot light)

10. Eight position rotary switch to select voltage (easier that screwing terminals)

11. SPST switch for manual rotator auto/off control (oops, forgot to "draw in" the rotator motor!)

12. SPST switch for manual chopper auto/off control

13. DPDT relay to switch on the solenoid circuit from control circuit

14. SPDT toggle switch (will toggle the solenoid circuit to cycle only when the circuit is closed at the timer input or will switch to the time delay circuit which will flash the solenoids continously, whether or not the fire signal is activated from the timer input or reguarless of the choppers attack cycle. There is no way for the fire signal input from the control circuit to control the time delay so if the time delay is set to on, solenoids will flash the whole time the siren is cycling like the blower. Of course, you can cycle the solenoids continuiously form the timer input, but this gives the option if the timer input is of a single input. If you dont get this, its not relaly important I just wanted to use the other side of the Agastat timer, haha)

15.or DPDT toggle switch (solenoid test/off/auto)

16. Multi-function timer as a flasher with adjustable speed, has embedded and powered SPNO relay which comprises the top two terminals)

17. DPDT relay (for the timer to flash the solenoid circuits alternately)

18. SPDT toggle switch to select hi-lo or pulsed signal

19. DPDT switch to select the hi tone to sound first or the lo tone to sound first.

20. DPDT toggle switch (Tone 1 test/off/auto)

21. DPDT toggle switch (Tone 2 test/off/auto)


Voltage of all power AND control circuits is 240VAC. The center "circles" of all represented switches and relays represents the common.

Yellow blocks are powered relays, orange is power wires constantly on, black is power wires usually switched off unless running, blue is blower/rotator/chopper control wires, hot pink is solenoid signal wires, green is timer common of both air-raid and solenoid circuits. And yes, wires of different colors can contact each other, I just color coded them for easier viewing since this was done in MS Paint and not a true CAD program.

[thunderbeam63]

I'll never understand electricity.

[Gil]

I'll never understand electricity.

Nice Schematic, Jason. It certainly sounds do-able.

[JasonC]

I'll never understand electricity.

It's actually not that hard. All you do is take it one wire, and figure out where t connect it. Take small steps in designing a circuit, and before you know it, your done!


Apparently we need more electrical and mechanical engineers on this board

[thunderbeam63]

Oh, thanks for the lesson.
Now I know what a circuit is.

Prepare to go off topic.

What do all the coils and whirly giggers do???