using relays

[balidas]

Have you seen these?

http://www.three-rail.com/3RATX.HTM

[lionelme]

Thanks!  Traffic will be running in two directions through all the crossings.

[cheech]

I have severl crossings in my layout. one is 4 45degree tracks hooked together another is 4 90 degree tracks hooked together. I use the collision prevention methods described on the Zstuff site. Whether you use his relays or others or his detection/sendor devices or others or insulated rails, the principal will be the same. I have found Zstuff works well because it allows you to shorten the approach to the crossing to a manageable amount of track.  The key is directions of the trains and the length of the consist you intend to halt or let thru. A relay with a timer is also useful for this application.

Ralph 

[steve24944]

North-South Track crossing East-West Track:    Using outside control rail to turn relay on/off which would control center rail power of the opposing track.  So 2 relays needed.  Control rail on North-South track would activate relay to control power to center rail of East-West Track. And same for East-West track controlling North-South Track.  So.... 18-24 inches of track each side of crossing to be insulated by fiber pins.   Second set of contacts on the relay could be used to run signals.   If 2 trains enter the control rails at same time, both trains would stop, and freeze up traffic.

Are you running trains one direction only, or are tracks running traffic in both directions ?

Steve

[lionelme]

I have all of the good Peter Riddle's books and am setting up my dream layout with Gargraves, 022 switches (2) and 1122 switches (16).  The layout will have three 4-way crossings that I would like to be able to control using relays - 12v dc for accessories, 24 vdc for blocks/track power control.  All using rectifiers and additional capacitors to cut down on possible relay chatter.

Anyone have any ideas on how best to connect up relays to control a 4-way crossing so that if train A arrives first, it cuts off power to Train B's track until A has gone through the crossing?  Will also be using the relays to control blocks and activate lights.   Power to this 10 x 10 layout is five ZW's.