The Home Machinist!

My critter chassis is nearly done, and over the winter I might build up a quick boxcab structure to use until I build a proper Davenport switcher body shell. I want a bell and a horn for my train, but will probably hide them in the riding car because my engine is small. If I build a flatcar or a gondola holding "crates" that can be ridden on, then there will be plenty of room inside for a 12v battery and a horn and a bell circuit. I am not talking about the type that might be on the hood of an engine. I am thinking of more like a trolley bell/gong sound that I can use when I want to warn people at crossings, or backing up, etc.

I see Cannonball offers a bell unit that is around $170 and runs off of a 12v battery. http://www.cannonballltd.com/products_img/pt33902.jpg
It seems really nice but a bit too expensive for me right now. I am NOT looking for a simulated bell sound via some electronic board or sound card. Anyone have any frugal ways to create a bell-ringing unit? I was thinking in a pinch I could always purchase a counter bell ringer like near the cash-registers and hit it with my foot in time!

Thanks.

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

Ben:

I bought an old school bell at the flea market similar to what used to hang in the hall to let you know you're late for class. The gong part is about 8 inches in diameter. I'm trying to mount it inside my speeder frame with some sort of foot pedal to ring it. That's the tough part. I'll let you know how it works out.

Neil

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Editor - Live Steam & Outdoor Railroading
Allen Mogul under construction
Electric RS3
Stationary Steam

Ben: Try a School bell, they are on the internet for cheap, mostly being one of those cast in India, with a wooden ringer handle for the 'teacher'. They have a good tone, and can be set in about anywhere you have about a 5" round space. There is another sold on the net, a bit smaller and higher pitched, that is a horseshoe design, for the bracket for the bell. I have one that hangs from an anchor, near my Captain, Harbor, and Seashore paintings.

Anyway you go, it should set you back less than $25 for the thing to play with. I would mount it stiffly hung from a flat bar harp, and just use a cord on the free hangin' dinger.

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Thanks both for your replies, but I think something got lost in the translation. I am looking for a style that I can turn on with the push of a button (meaning, electrically controlled) and let is ring without me having to do something everytime I want to hear it ring, like pull a chord or step on something.

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

My original thought was to set up a manual foot pedal like those found on a Fairmont speeder. Since my speeder runs off of a 12volt battery, I'm toying with the idea of setting up a solenoid that's energized by a timer circuit allowing a spike of current (a capaciter discharge?) to the bell coil. The spike interval can hopefully be shortened or lenghened by a pot control. The output should sound something like the steady ka-ding, ka-ding, ka-ding of a loco bell. Then there is the thought of a push button for a one-shot ring no matter how long you hold the button down. Many button pushes would equal many bell rings. Seems okay in my mind's eye; the real trick is to actually get it to work! I'll need the help of an electronics wizard.

Neil

_________________
Editor - Live Steam & Outdoor Railroading
Allen Mogul under construction
Electric RS3
Stationary Steam

Naw, just get a clock motor of appropriate speed, hang a cam on it to pull a spring loaded striker. Toggle on, and it will Ka-ding for as long as you have battery. They are made in many voltages and speeds, just check a surplus catalogue.

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Door Bells that use chimes (usually use a transformer to step down power to 12 volts). If it isnt a electronic one, the part that did the striking could be used directly on the bell. Otherwise the door "gong" if you shorten the pipe will change the pitch. Just a thought.

On a side note.... A fellow down the road from me used a car equalizer with a electronic boat horn. He could change the pitch of the horn with the equalizer.

While sitting at work this morning, they decided to do a fire-drill test. And wouldn't you know, DING DING DING! The bell on our wall seemed to be perfect in sound and frequency. The one in our office is an "Edwards" branc, cat. 374. It says 2.5 AMPS, 50-60 cyc.

My question is this: Is "50-60 cyc" stand for 50-60 rings per minute (which is what I want), or is that a function of the motor's power? I don't know much about electronics or bells, so any help you guys can provide would be great.

If 50-60cyc DOES stand for cycles, then that will be useful to search for online. I found lots of fire alarm bells online, but none list how many times they ring per minutes. Most school alarm bells ring MUCH too fast for my purposes, but some fire alarm bells might work out fine.

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

Beej,
The 50-60 cycles is the ability of the electrical circuit to be used on 50 or 60 hertz (cycle) alternating AC electrical power. Here in the U.S. 60 cycles is the interval between shifts from one direction to the other of alternating current electrical power, i.e., your wall socket. Europe and other places are on 50 cycles, and typically are 240 volt versus the 110 here.

One can buy converters for your electrical equipment when you travel to Europe, to drop the voltage from 240 to 110, but the appliance has to be 50 or 60 cycle or you can't use it.

Bottom line here is the bell you are looking at is for alternating current.
Brian
PS: Not an electrician or engineer so forgive me for screwing up a fairly simple subject with a terrible explanation.

you may have to get a inverter to get that 60 cycle bell to work.

Well, if the "cycle" amount doesn't stand for the ring beat per minute, then there isn't a real reason to follow up on that bell. Hum...

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

My bell was actually a christmas tree ornament. Brass, nicely made, about2-3 inches tall. I think a small gearmotor could hit it externally instead of internally. If the motor runs too slowly, you could fit 2 or more strikers on a disc mounted to the motor shaft. Sometimes little motors like this are available free on animated displays in liquor stores and such, when the advertising period is over.