Signeling Geeks Please Help

[spikejones52002]

I met Jim from South Bend Signal Co. at the South Bend  IN. Lionel show.

I was impressed with the signaling systems they manufacture.

I would like to incorperate into my inside overhead layout.

Need advise on how to set up the signeling.

I would like to have four signals around each track. 

I am just looking to have basic signaling for appearances. 

 

NOW would I handle the cross overs? 

 

These are the two signal heads I would like to use. 

 www.sbsignal.com is where I am thinking about purchacing the units from.

The targets use bicolor LEDs and can display red, yellow and green. 

[John Busby]

Hi spikejones52002

Am I correct in thinking the search light gives a red or green signal.

What indications does the two head signal give on each head.

What are you trying to achieve with the signals "looks good" or do you want the signals to  actualy give some sort of information and function.

railway signaling is a pretty broad thing with several different systems and some things are specific to one railway where as others go world wide

Is your line RH running

regards John Busby

[John Busby]

Hi spikejones52002

you are going to need some one that knows more about practical electronics than me.

you are going to have to have some sort of interlocking by the switches just to get it to look right.

But this I can tell you to help a bit its based on the signaling I am used to.

the signals facing the switches need to be two heads that can both show red, green

the top head is the main line and needs to be able to be green only when the main line is a clear path the bottom head neads to stay red.

When the switches are set for the cross over the lower head needs to show green and the upper head red.

This means the top head is for the high speed route (main line) the lower head for the cross over you also need to show no opposing signals ie the signals don't set for a head on crash.

you may want to concider a couple of dwarf signals for the wrong road moves when it is necasary the dwarfs only need to show red or yellow.

The problem being that the whole lot needs interlocking to prevent things looking a bit odd

You only need full hight signals for the normal running direction on each line the direction of the arrows any switching or wrong road moves would be controled by dwarf or specialised signal for that purpose.

hope this is of some help

regards John Busby

[spikejones52002]

Thank You John.

I summitted both plans to South Bend Signal. I am waiting for their reply.

I am waffling between a three head signal for the approch to the switches, or single head and dwarfs.

The problem I see with using dwarfs is the switch is so close to the begining of the block on my inside track.

If S.B. will make the three head signals. I will use a set of three on the inside and a single head  with dwarfs on the outside.

[Anonymous]

Would think you need block detectors to change the colors of the tri color leds.

Did they by now send you back a idea?

Toad

[spikejones52002]

After several E-Mails to South Bend Signal. I have not received a reply.

[Anonymous]

Did you buy there system yet?

Do they have a number listed.....hold on I will check.

Toad

[Anonymous]

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.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

DAH-H-H-H, WHA'D YOU SAY TOAD ???

Byron C.

[spikejones52002]

S.B Signal use optical pick ups set inbetween the rails to operated their signal systems.

I would like to use micro switches to indicate the position of the switches.

Problem S.B Signal is not repying to my quires.

One of my main concerns is short trains. If a piece of equiptment is not over the detector. Will the signal stay RED. 

I estimate I will be purchacing about $1000.00 in equiptment. 

 

T.F. & W. L. go to  "WWW.SBSIGNAL.COM" and read about their system.

[Anonymous]

Read on that web page under "SUPPORT" and yes that just came from there!