fantastic guide, many thanks

Larry great video on how to make your own equipment. That did a great job getting the static grass down and standing up nicely. Thanks for sharing and stay safe. Ken

Thanks Larry, I bought the parts to make Luke's version and haven't made it yet. Now I've seen yours I like it better so your video timing is great, I'm going to make mine like yours. I look foreward to your videos, cheers and stay safe. Phil.

Nice tutorial. I made my own applicator with a switch which has a built in LED. Less wiring and less confusing for me.

Thank you a lot 😍🙏🏻❤️

Larry, great video. Thanks for sharing.

Great job Larry Well worth the effort

Excellent! Thanks Larry.

Thanks Larry I will make one of these for myself now as you made it look so easy. Just to let you know I also got some of the Rail Aligners from Model Tech and they work really well to thank you for your help Many thanks and stay safe. 👍

Thanks Larry.

Great video. Thanks for sharing this :)

The modification of placing the metal grid at the back of the container may improve performance, but more importantly it is safer. Much less chance of touching the positive grid and giving yourself a shock.

I’m probably going to make one of those myself because my Ongar Station layout will need lots of static grass!!

You didn't show how you got the switch in place, right. Would be easier before installing the Rubbermaid, right. You did a very good job, I will make one myself. Thank you.

Try using aluminum foil for your surface. It conducts well and it is easy to peel the grass mat off after the glue dries.

Larry, Thank you for you great channel, I have learned a lot! A question on the ion generator. I built my unit a few years back based on a design published in MRH. There were two designs described, one that used 120VAC , the other used a low voltage supply. I was unable to get the low voltage ion generator in the parts list so my unit uses the 120V generator. My question is, is this unit less save v. units using a low voltage supply? It is fused. I’m not concerned with the internal (inside the handle) wiring, just if the shock from the screen to ground would be unsafe (my hot wire is attached to the screen, though I plan on moving it to the back per your follow- up video). Thanks in advance!

@TheDCCGuy

11 ай бұрын

I have no idea how the unit you have is wired but assume the outlet side is internally isolated from the high voltage side. However with a unit like this you never know what the original purpose was and how it was intended to be installed. I’m surprised the MRH article didn’t mention this.

Thanks, great tutorial. Simple circuit, but you drew a diode on your schematic, not a resistor, lol. All the parts necessary are also available on Amazon, FWIW.

@TheDCCGuy

Жыл бұрын

I checked and the zig zag line is a resistor not a diode.

I build one with a negative ion generator from a microwave. It is 110 voltage and I can stand up 2x4s . I am probably going to dismantle this thing before I fry myself.

thanks for sharing like 182

Just ordered all the supplies needed to assemble the applicator. Thank you for sharing this and looking forward to the next video for the comparison of results. I picked up your "DCC Projects & Applications Vol. 4" and I'm beginning to wrap my head around wiring my layout. Really happy to have this before I was too far along. I'm enjoying this book so much that I ordered two more. "Wiring Your Model Railroad" and "Wiring Projects for Your Model Railroad". Do you have any other recommended reads?

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you’re rounding them all up. Don’t forget that www.wiringfordcc.com is a good resource.

@dannyervin3486

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks, I didn't know about that site.

Larry ... great video as always. One thing you didn't mention in the parts list ... the Rubbermaid container. I ordered some from Ebay that were similar I think ... Rubbermaid TakeAlongs 1.2 Cup.

@jpkarenko6952

3 жыл бұрын

Dollar Store has these available in multi-packs for (you guessed it) a dollar. Many sizes and shapes, Rubbermaid, Betty Crocker and others.

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Ted used an old Skippy peanut butter jar, although my wife says it is very difficult to get them clean. I dug up an old gelato jar about the same size which looks like a good option too.

Larry could you explain in a future video how one might be able to wire the static grass applicator so one could switch between battery and a 12 volt power source. Also how one could place an inline banana socket and banana plug to allow the exchange between a grounding probe and an alligator clip; unplugging one grounding implement and plugging the other one in.

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

As I said in the video if you just watch Luke Towan’s video he shows how he did just that and provided a wiring diagam

Question: I ordered the necessary module, still underway from China. At this moment I use some kind of home build fly teaser which will give me a shock when I touch the metal netting, even after I switched it off. So every time I pull the on/off switch I have to touch the negative with the netting to unload it. It gives a spark which I’m not that happy about. Do you encounter this with the module you are using or does that version directly unload itself after switching off? I was glad to see your video, finding a version which can do 15 to 20 kV at 12 V. I will run it at a 9 V battery and can’t wait to see the results.

@TheDCCGuy

Жыл бұрын

If you watch my videos on the new improved and more,powerful version you will see I moved the contact point back to the top of the static grass holder so there is no way to co touch it unless you try hard. Also if you simply touch the ground wire to the metal screen or contact plate it will drain the circuit.

Larry, great videos on this process. One question I have is how do you protect the ion generator from the threads of the screws? It seems that there may be a little play that could cause the threads to rub and cut into the box.

@TheDCCGuy

2 жыл бұрын

If you are concerned about it you could add some extra protection using some of the thin ethafoam or similar shipping padding.

@RRWMFan

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDCCGuy Thank you. I am not sure if the ion generator moved around inside otherwise. Wanting to have everything on hand to build one since I am nearing this point on my layout.

@TheDCCGuy

2 жыл бұрын

It may rattle around a bit but the electrical components are embedded in a resin matrix so are well protected. (This also prevent you from copying their circuit design). It is a common method for protecting an electrical circuit that is to be used in humid or wet conditions.

Hi again Larry, I should have asked this in my previous comment. I understand the reasoning of having all the wires in the static body, my question is how did you get your push button through its opening? I have had to fish tail wires in my house during remodeling and found that most of the time it helped if I could attach a line through the opening to the wire I wanted pull through. How were you able to do this with the button so effectively? I’ve never dealt with something this small. Thanks

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Like I said in the video if you install the wires and parts before installing the static grass holder, it makes it a lot easier since you can work from the that end.

Larry, I will echo your other view that said the applicator would be more effective with the wire at the rear of the cup instead of the front on the screen. I have a couple static applicators. The most efficient in my Noch. If you look at the design in the Noch there is a little projection at the bottom of the cup. They also use plastic screens. So you don't need a metal screen if you place the generator behind the static grass the field generated goes from that pole to the ground. I have an applicator with the same design as your (and Luke's) and all it does id snap and pop more creating a visible electric bolt of energy (lightning) when held close to the ground plane. The Noch does not do this much. I have better success and results with the Noch than the design you made. I've gotten zapped more with design you have. Bill Shanaman New Haven RR. Sugar City, CO.

@deshawntyson8370

2 жыл бұрын

You prolly dont care but does anybody know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost the password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

@finleymaxwell2250

2 жыл бұрын

@Deshawn Tyson Instablaster =)

@deshawntyson8370

2 жыл бұрын

@Finley Maxwell i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

@deshawntyson8370

2 жыл бұрын

@Finley Maxwell It worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my ass !

@finleymaxwell2250

2 жыл бұрын

@Deshawn Tyson you are welcome :D

Larry, question: I built my static grass generator exactly as shown in your video (large washer at the back of the RubberMaid container) but, simply put, it doesn't work. Wiring is correct, LED lights when I push the button - but nothing. I even tried attaching the ground to a metal plate sprinkled with Woodland Scenics static grass. Waved an anode screen over it less than a quarter inch from the plate - nothing. Is it most likely that the generator I bought (Ebay/China) no good or ??? I don't know any other way to test it (don't want to touch it or use a V-O meter)

@TheDCCGuy

2 жыл бұрын

I would suspect that as these are pretty straightforward devices assuming the wiring is correct. I tested mine before doing the project by setting the ends of the two wires from the generator in clips a few mm apart and then fired it up with a battery and momentary pushbutton. It made a nice spark across the gap between the wires.

@RevTed47

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDCCGuy Thank you sir! Much appreciated. No spark so I’ll order another generator.

Hi Larry, not being knowledgeable on electronics, does it matter which end of the resistor goes to the LED?

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Not really.

Would it work with a 6kv generator? Can’t seem to find a 20kv one

@TheDCCGuy

4 ай бұрын

I think that would be underpowered but I am far from a technical expert on this.

What material do you use to make grass? Tell me thnx

@TheDCCGuy

2 жыл бұрын

I just buy the commercially available static grass from Woodland Scenics, Noch, and others via my Walthers dealer. There is an article this month in MR on dyeing static grasses to get just the color you want.

Awesome video Larry How did you get the pushbutton thru the hole

@TheDCCGuy

3 жыл бұрын

Lots of grease and a ten pound hammer. Actually it more or less slid right in but impossible to shoot since it was done from the inside. I drilled a 5/16” hole for the 1/4” diameter switch making it an easy fit.

@mechticulous8202

2 ай бұрын

Should have just removed the Tupperware container.😅