Uncoupling advice wanted.

[emjaybee]

As some may have realised, I'm not exactly quick of the mark when it comes to layout manufacture, but I do enjoy the planning.

Looking ahead, I want to be able to uncouple stock in sidings etc, and there are a plethora of devices available.

I'd like to decide on a system prior to track laying to avoid having to tear up track or drill holes through after the track has been laid.

I like the idea of the Dapol Easi-shunt, but the cost seems excessive.

What do people think of the SEEP EM-1 Electro-Magnetic Uncouplers?

Are they easy to install?
How far below the couplers do they need to be?
Can they be installed below the sleepers?
Do the metal operating rods work on all Rapido/ELC couplers?
What experiences have people had?

It seems like a resonably cost effective method compared to the Easi-shunt, if anyone has any better ideas I'd love to know.

[ntpntpntp]

The electromagnetic systems such as the Peco and Gaugemaster are similar, they require small metal arms to be bent to shape and fixed to the underside of the Rapido couplings.  They work best with very lightly sprung or unsprung couplings such as Peco ELCs. The electro-magnets can also attract other metal such as axles, wagon weights etc. which might be a nuisance.

In my opinion the trouble with a lot of automated uncoupling systems is the actuators are in fixed locations on the layout, so you need a coupling design which can pre-uncouple and then allow the stock to be pushed further to the desired location without re-coupling (eg. the Kay-Dee knuckles and similar variants).

I gave up on such systems, I just use a dentist's probe to lift and uncouple Rapido couplings at the location I need the stock to be separated.

[PostModN66]

If you are going to go down the Rapido route, at least consider using permanent magnets with some sort of sliding/hinging arrangement rather than electro magnets.  The advantage is simpler (no) wiring and a greater pull if you use a Neomidium magnet so the metal bit on the coupler can be smaller and more discrete.

BTW: The Farish sprung coupler can fairly easily be modified to hinge like a Peco one. 

Cheers Jon 

[Hailstone]

I have been using the gaugemaster system fo more than 2 years now on my exhibition layout Tremierten with a high level of success to the point that several members of my club (the Berkshire group of the N Gauge Society) have operated it and were impressed with it. @Bob Tidbury of BH enterprises has also operated it and enjoyed himself. see my thread on Tremierten here: https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=26009.15 or read the article in the N Gauge Society journal 6/17 or alternatively, pm me

Regards,

Alex

[emjaybee]

I have been using the gaugemaster system fo more than 2 years now on my exhibition layout Tremierten with a high level of success to the point that several members of my club (the Berkshire group of the N Gauge Society) have operated it and were impressed with it. @Bob Tidbury of BH enterprises has also operated it and enjoyed himself. see my thread on Tremierten here: https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=26009.15 or read the article in the N Gauge Society journal 6/17 or alternatively, pm me

Regards,

Alex

@Hailstone thanks for that. I had a good read and I get the gist.

Can the electro-magnets be installed just below sleeper level?

I think £ for £ this is preferable to the Dapol easi-shunt method, you're only looking at approx 50p per wagon for conversion rather than £5 per wagon.

Thanks.

[Leon]

I'll probably be returning to this thread in the future, but for now, the best advice I saw (for my needs) was the "dentist's probe".

Leon

[Hailstone]

I have been using the gaugemaster system fo more than 2 years now on my exhibition layout Tremierten with a high level of success to the point that several members of my club (the Berkshire group of the N Gauge Society) have operated it and were impressed with it. @Bob Tidbury of BH enterprises has also operated it and enjoyed himself. see my thread on Tremierten here: https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=26009.15 or read the article in the N Gauge Society journal 6/17 or alternatively, pm me

Regards,

Alex

@Hailstone thanks for that. I had a good read and I get the gist.

Can the electro-magnets be installed just below sleeper level?

I think £ for £ this is preferable to the Dapol easi-shunt method, you're only looking at approx 50p per wagon for conversion rather than £5 per wagon.

Thanks.

I found that I got a better response  with the pole piece at sleeper level, but even then once weathered, I had difficulty seeing them and had to place markers adjacent to them so that I could line wagons and coaches up to them, never mind other operators!

Regards,

Alex

[Bob Tidbury]

I found Hailstones layout quite easy to operate once I had got used to the fact that the control panel was built to go at the front of the layout so was upside down when at the back ,I only made one big mistake as Tonye witnessed while he was there ,but I didn't use the hand of god to get myself out of trouble .
The uncoupling was fairly good for a learner like me again once you got used to where the magnets were hidden .
As Hailstone said I did enjoy operating Tremierten .
Bob Tidbury

[emjaybee]

Thanks for all the info and help, I'll keep everyone posted on progress, when I actually start making some.

Thanks all.

[Hailstone]

I found Hailstones layout quite easy to operate once I had got used to the fact that the control panel was built to go at the front of the layout so was upside down when at the back ,I only made one big mistake as Tonye witnessed while he was there ,but I didn’t use the hand of god to get myself out of trouble .
The uncoupling was fairly good for a learner like me again once you got used to where the magnets were hidden .
As Hailstone said I did enjoy operating Tremierten .
Bob Tidbury

you were not the only one to comment on the control panel Bob, so I have built one specifically for operating from behind the layout!

All the best,

Alex