Signals

Richard_Smith · February 28, 2008, 9:51pm

“The problem arises around switches. Since I’m battery/rc, most (all) of my switches are metal frogged, so both rails on a switch show up as connected electrically. So, I’m pondering some sort of visual detector.”

Bob, can’t you simply insulate the switches from the tracks and wire jumpers around them? That way you’d have detection on everything but the switches themselves.

SteveF · February 28, 2008, 10:07pm

Ah, the voice of reason! Great idea.

admin1 · February 29, 2008, 12:24am

Yea, no thats the idea off the bat, but eventually I WILL need switch detection…

SlateCreek · February 29, 2008, 2:52am

Anyone wanting dimensional drawings of signals and the like, I’ve been doing some research with the idea that eventually the SCRY will have some. I have a lot of drawings and files on different kinds … mostly semaphores, and some PRR stuff, but in many cases the masts are the same regardless of head… and I think I have some searchlight stuff too.

Drop me a note, and I can e-mail what I’ve got. I also have some maintenance manuals for the real thing in pdf form, has some closeups of different parts… and a bunch of signal lexicon/aspects/rulebook extracts, etc on how to set up aspects.

I’ve not jumped in here before because Fred really only wanted to hear from folks who had them in use… but if my findings will help, I’d be happy to share.

Matthew (OV)

admin1 · February 29, 2008, 2:43pm

Matthew: I’m definitely interested in them.

dottney · February 29, 2008, 3:10pm

I’ll be watching this with interest. I’m running an indoor layout with RC battery power and am pondering how to signal a stretch that goes behind a free standing darkroom so one thing doesn’t run into another when friends are over operating with me. I was actually thinking of some sort of mechanical trip “thingy” that would protrude in the path of the train.
Like I said I’ll be watching this.
Dave

freddy · March 1, 2008, 8:17pm

I’m happy to hear from anyone who can contribute to the thread…
It just happens that any signals I will be using; will actually be operational, in order to “Protect” an actual crossing of one rail line over another.
They will not be there just for “Atmosphere”, as is the case on many “Garden railroads”.
The signals protecting the crossing in question, on my pike, will be controled by the dispatcher, in a tower, about 50 feet from the crossing, with a simple dpdt switch.

SlateCreek · March 2, 2008, 4:40am

Bob McCown said:
Matthew: I'm definitely interested in them.

Ok. I got a bunch of files at home. Lemme see what I can do.... may be Monday before I have enough time to get them all sent out, but I'll send them.

Matthew (OV)

GAVNO · March 9, 2008, 5:55am

You realize od course that you can also make your signals YELLOW with those bicolor LEDs; simply drive the LED with a 555 chip (Radio Shack item, probably under a buck) wired as an astable multivibrator (high speed switch), and a couple of CMOS or TTL gates to turn on BOTH the red and green at high speed. Set up the 555 so that the on and off times are equal, and run the thing at maybe 600 - 1800 Hz to make the switching invisible. The response lag in the eye will make it look yellow.

Mr. T.

JRad · March 9, 2008, 3:17pm

Tom Adams said:
You realize od course that you can also make your signals YELLOW with those bicolor LEDs; simply drive the LED with a 555 chip (Radio Shack item, probably under a buck) wired as an astable multivibrator (high speed switch), and a couple of CMOS or TTL gates to turn on BOTH the red and green at high speed. Set up the 555 so that the on and off times are equal, and run the thing at maybe 600 - 1800 Hz to make the switching invisible. The response lag in the eye will make it look yellow.
Mr. T.

That’s a very neat trick - and one I would have never thought of. 555 circuits are pretty simple to build. RS used to sell a small book of 555 projects that I have. I’m sure a multivibrator is among them. If not, theres probably a bunch of circuits on the net.

Thanks !

Jon