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BC3 |
An autonomous throttle designed for simple elephant parade style operations at exhibitions. A Merg module. |
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BEMF |
Back EMF. The voltage induced in an inductor by changing magnetic fields. A DC motor produced BEMF, and this resists the flow of current into the motor. |
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Cab |
A power source to drive a train. Referred to as a throttle on this site. |
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A US-based company that sells ready-made modules for controlling a railway from a PC. |
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Integrating generated volts gives a good indication of how far a train has travelled within a section. |
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Dropper wire |
A short wire that is fixed to track, normally passing through the baseboard, and connects to a main feed wire. Ideally multi-strand wire. |
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Facing turnout |
A turnout used where lines diverge (as viewed in the normal direction of travel). |
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Feedback |
The process of monitoring the generated voltage or BEMF. A throttle can monitor this in the motor it is driving and thus get an accurate indication of relative speed. |
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Feed wire |
The main length of wire from the throttle to the track. |
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Generated voltage |
When a DC motor has its power interrupted, but the motor is still spinning, it generates a voltage (generators and motors are very similar devices). The generated voltage is the same magnitude as BEMF. |
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Light Dependant Resistor |
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Model Electronics Railway Group. An internet-based club organised to assist members in using electronics on their railways. http://www.merg.info |
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Module |
The term used to refer to a circuit board containing components to interface to a model railway. |
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Quad Throttle Unit. An electronic module which contains four automatic throttles and lots of other capabilities. Extends the RPC family of modules. |
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A family of low-priced modules available as kits to MERG members. |
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SmartCab |
The name CTI gives to its computer controlled throttles. |
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TBrain |
The software that CTI markets to drive its range of interface modules. |
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Train Control Center. The layout control software available on this site. |
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TCL |
Train Control Language. The scripting language created by CTI, and enhanced and extended in Tcc |
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TDL |
Track Definition Language. A means of defining a model railway layout so that TCL script to drive the trains can be generated automatically. |
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Throttle |
A power source to drive a train. Also called a controller, or cab |
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Track piece |
A unit of track as layed - two single pieces of rail with no joins. |
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Track section |
A length of track, possibly made of several pieces. |
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Track route section |
All the track between two turnouts |
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Trailing turnout |
A turnout used where lines converge (as viewed in the normal direction of travel). |
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Turnout |
A special piece of track where lines converge or diverge. Also called a point. |
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