This video is going through the electronics design of a model railway point controller capacitor discharge unit.

In the UK we normally call them railway points, but a common term in the US is a railroad switch. They may also be known as a railway junction, or a railroad crossing.

In the model railway world then these are normally operated by solenoids. Some use servo motors, but this video is specifically for these solenoid point motors.

The video shows a 3D model of a solenoid model railway point motor in action, and explains about the advantages of a Capacitor Discharge Unit (CDU).

This is part of a larger project which will involve use of a Raspberry Pi Pico to control point motors for a model railroad.

For more details about the Capacitor Discharge Unit (CDU) see:
https://www.penguintutor.com/electron...

For more details about my model railway electronics, including model railway automation see: https://www.penguintutor.com/projects...




Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Model railway point motors (solenoids)
07:55 Capacitor discharge
09:10 MOSFET based circuit
13:59 Design improvements
17:57 Using with mechanical switch
18:33 Future use