activation devices

[Anonymous]

In reading the posting by FJ and G about intiminating electronics, I have a question I hope to get answered. I'm new to this hobby and am working on my first layout, the guy at the train store talked me into using Gar Graves track instead of the lionel track. My question, for trackside accessories such as crossing gates, is there some other way to activate them without using an infared motion sensor with this type of track? I plan on having alot of train activated accessories, but hoping not to spend $30.00 on the activation sensors for each one.

P.S. I,m new to this forum and I must say it's great, I've been reading it for about a month, there is a great deal of knowledge out there, thank-you everyone.....tom

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tom, I still activate some accessories using the insulated track method specifically crossing flashers. If you are not familiar with this technique almost any book on three rail operation (Check out your public library.) will be able to explain it with words and pictures better than what I can do on the forum. Basically, the wheel and axles of the engine or car complete the electrical circuit and some electrons flow to some accessory which moves, flashes, sings, dances, spins, hops, grinds, or flickers. [:D]

Incidently, several large libraries have videos to help you with your train questions. An old video really helped me understand scenery much more throughly than reading it in a book. I can slop paint with the best of them now!![C=:-)]

I believe Kalmbach may have a book about electronics that has an activation device project, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else here on the CTT forum will know.

[Roger Bielen]

With GarGraves track the insulated rail is the least expensive and the easiest since the two outer rails are already electically isolated from each other. In brief, you cut one outer rail at the limits/ends of the activation section, attach the ground/common from your accessory to this section of rail and when the train passes over the wheels complete the ground/common to the opposite rail closing the circuit allowing current flow. As Buckeye suggested most books on O-gauge usually explain this setup.

[jkerklo]

I have to suggest that you check out the activation device offered by Three-Rail Innovations and described at the web site in my signature.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com