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Creating a Signal System To create a signal system on your layout there are a four steps that have to be taken. [1] Detection: The track must be divided into blocks. A block is an electrically isolated section of track. This is accomplished by cutting a one rail of track into sections. Each section of track is then called a BLOCK. Insulated rail joiners can be used to connect the sections of track together. Notice that one lead from the track power goes to the uncut rail. This called the track common. The other power connection goes to each cut section of track. [2] After dividing your track into blocks, each block must be connected to a detector. A DETECTOR is a device that tells you when a train is present in a block (occupied). There are several detection devices on the market that can serve this purpose. Some are optical detectors and others are called current sensing detectors. The former, optical detectors, have the disadvantage that they depend on light conditions in the room and most will not work in the dark. The other type of detector, the current sensing variety, rely on the track current to tell whether a block is occupied by a train. This by far the best type and the type used on real railroads. When a train enters a block, electricity flows from the track through the train's wheels. This causes a drop in current which is picked up by the block detector. Any device which will cause the current to drop will activate the detector. Even a fright car on a model railroad car with a resistor placed across is wheels will activate the detector. The illustration above shows the detectors connected to each isolated section of track. One block requires one detector. Notice that the power runs through the detector and then to the track. Some detectors are made to be used on DC powered systems while others are for DCC systems only. Others can be used on both DC and DCC systems. [3] Now you know when a block is occupied. So what is next? You have to have a way to send the detector signal to the appropriate signal at the track and to have that signal display the correct aspect (RED, YELLOW, or GREEN). To accomplish this task you need a SIGNAL DRIVER circuit. This driver will figure out what to do with the detector's output and display the correct aspect. Our signal system now looks like this. [4] The last thing to do is to add signals to the beginning of each block and to connect the signals to the signal drive. That is all there is to it. Well, not exactly. It depends on the parts of the system you purchase and how easy it is to put the parts of the system together (detector, signal driver, and signals). Some are more complicated that others. There are several companies that offer the different parts need for a signal system. The best source for all of these is the Walthers catalogue. South Bend Signal has a Detector Signal Driver (DSD). It will provide you with both a detector and a signal driver in one package at a reasonable price. The package has the advantage of having the detector and the drive together which reduces the amount of wiring. This keeps the system simple.
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