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**desertdrover** · 11-27-2021, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by BurleyJim View Post

I'm still trying to figure out where the exhaust blast ends up? Will there be a plenum directing the airflow?

Jim

Jim, you and Bernd are way over thinking this whole thing. Look up a small hand held computer vacuum on "how it works videos" or even a small vacuum cleaner "How-to video"
If you were to stick a small fan on the end of a tube, turn it on, put the other end of the tube in a pile of dust, that dust is coming up through that tube.
Now I've got the back of the MDC boxcab open where the fan is mounted, the bottom center of the Boxcab will have a pick-up chute facing the tracks, there will be a filter just ahead of the circuit board and fan area. So, that leaves the whole front of the boxcab to collect the dust as the vacuum goes down the track. Collecting dirt and dust Just like a vacuum cleaner works only in a smaller scale.

**Carl_B** · 11-27-2021, 08:40 PM

Nice work Louis. Sorry I wasn't here earlier.

I can't seem to find builds like on the old forum software. Takes me way more clicks (and days) to find them.

**Bernd** · 11-27-2021, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by desertdrover View Post

Bernd, I do have a DCC controlled layout. I show the Digitrax DZ143 decoder in the picture of parts on page #1. And, the circuit board picture above, this page, also shows the NMRA 8 Pin socket for decoder plug-in.
When you have a 12 volt DC locomotive, and install a DCC decoder into it, it still has that original 12 volt DC motor running on DCC rails. And, your thoughts of two 9 volt batteries, with a 12volt regulator as well, where would you plan on installing all those items in an HO size anything????

Ah I missed the decoder. Went back to take a look. I didn't inspect those pictures very closely.

I was thinking about the whole subject after I posted. I would have the vacuum car and then an auxiliary tool car to carry the batteries. Ok all is well now. Carry on.

Bernd

**desertdrover** · 11-27-2021, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by Carl_B View Post

Nice work Louis. Sorry I wasn't here earlier.

I can't seem to find builds like on the old forum software. Takes me way more clicks (and days) to find them.

Thanks Carl, your here now.

I know about finding threads, there still is a learning curve here at RR-Line. But I like the changes.

**desertdrover** · 11-27-2021, 09:47 PM

I had one of my Great Grand Daughters here today staying with the Mrs. upstairs, so I was in the Man Cave all day.

So for an update on my progress, I mounted the assembled MDC trucks to the MDC underframe/chassis, and made-up a channel out of styrene tubing to route the front power wires to the circuit board area. This way the wires are held neatly together, and are also isolated from the vacuum dirt/dust collection chamber. Also, the electrical components have been soldered to the Perfboard. I may add, your PCB is going to be a snug fit no matter what shell you use for your vacuum car project. So, it is important that you first test fit the Perfboard before populating it with your components. I was very surprised with the space I was left with to use.
Let me also say, any person that solders PC boards for a living are worth their weight and gold. Wow, even with glasses, OptiVisor, and the worlds smallest soldering iron, I’m glad I only had these many wires to solder.
Some of you may ask why no yellow wire, well the vacuum fan always runs in the forward rotation direction, so only the white wire is needed to run the two red LED beacons wired in series using the 1K ¼ Watt resistor.
The last picture shows all the electrical components test fitted into place before final wiring.

**slimrails** · 11-28-2021, 07:42 AM

Excellent progress, Lou!

**Bernd** · 11-28-2021, 08:03 AM

Nice neat job on the soldering of the circuit board Louis. Also nice clean job on that removal of the access metal. This is a pretty neat and interesting project. Oh, almost forgot that is a neat way to run the wires and keep them neat.

Bernd

**desertdrover** · 11-28-2021, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by slimrails View Post

Excellent progress, Lou!

Thanks for your comment, and check in on this build.

**Philip** · 11-28-2021, 09:48 AM

Fun Fun! Nice clean work!

**desertdrover** · 11-28-2021, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by Bernd View Post

Nice neat job on the soldering of the circuit board Louis. Also nice clean job on that removal of the access metal. This is a pretty neat and interesting project. Oh, almost forgot that is a neat way to run the wires and keep them neat.

Bernd

Thanks for posting your thoughts and comments, that circuit board was a bear to work with. And, when it comes to my inspirations, I tent to go with the unusual.

**desertdrover** · 11-28-2021, 11:41 AM

There were some questions on how this unit would work, and asked about “where the exhaust blast ends up? Will there be a plenum directing the airflow”? I did a drawing below that should explain this vacuum car operation using a Box cab as my vacuum cleaner.
Also, you can check out this video on making a vacuum cleaner; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ETdWinizw
This is the same type of process only I use a Boxcab instead of a plastic tote container.

**Michael_Hohn** · 11-28-2021, 12:38 PM

Louis,

You have a far more elegant method than me: running my mini shop vac nozzle along the track hoping not to pick up track-side details. I've more than once had to open my vac to retrieve details.

My track cleaning tends to be intermittent, irregular, and often ineffectual.

Mike

**desertdrover** · 11-28-2021, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Michael_Hohn View Post

Louis,

You have a far more elegant method than me: running my mini shop vac nozzle along the track hoping not to pick up track-side details. I've more than once had to open my vac to retrieve details.

My track cleaning tends to be intermittent, irregular, and often ineffectual.

Mike

Hi Mike, read this thread and see if it will help you from digging into a vacuum cleaner for figures and lost parts. https://railroad-line.com/node/29450

**desertdrover** · 11-28-2021, 01:00 PM

I now have everything soldered in place except for the LED beacon lighting. That will be done when the cab is ready to be placed onto the finished chassis. The first set of pictures shows the chassis with the circuit board screwed down in place, the fan motor wiring and soldering completed and installed.
However, now I need to make-up some kind of screen that will hold a filter, to keep the dust and dirt in the front harper area, and keep it out of, and from flowing through the circuit board area.
I found a doohickey, whatever it is, that may do the job. The second set of pictures shows a black latticework type plastic hanger of some sort. (If anyone knows what it is let me know).
I need to cut out a shape from it, to look like the red & black example drawing I made, and slip it into the slots already on the MDC chassis where the original MDC Flywheel Bracket went. Very convenient for me anyway. This is to hold a vacuum filter in place to keep the dust, dirt and debris in the front chamber area.
The long square hole in the center of the underframe/chassis, where the MDC Gear Housing went, is where my vacuum nozzle will go. Again, very convenient for my needs.

**David_J_Buchholz** · 11-28-2021, 02:31 PM

Late to the party AGAIN!.. Stuck up in the balcony and can't hear a damn thing.

My question is "What are you doing to the other end?" From what we've been shown so far, there's additional area there, to the other side of the hole in the bottom, that could hold what gets picked up.

Any chance of moving the pickup hole towards the truck farthest away from the fan to create a larger pocket for debris? it seems like that there would be a more pocket available if you move that hole as far as you can away from the suction fan as possible. The greater the space between the hole and the fan screen means a greater capacity, which basically means moving the hole.

Just a thought.

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