kgrigsby wrote:MisterBeasley - How would you implement turnout indicators for atlas switches? I'm using a Digitrax DS-52 stationary decoder to control the switches.Ken
Atlas turnouts don't come with contacts, so you would need something else to do the job. Atlas makes a relay box, but at kind of a high price. They also make "deluxe" under-table switch machines that both throw the turnout and provide contact closure. If these work on your layout, they're not a bad idea.
For some of my turnouts, I bought some small latching relays. These function just like switch machines, but they throw contacts instead. You can see them at www.demarelectronics.com. I've seen them cheaper elsewhere, but they weren't available the last time I looked. Since these are double-pole, double-throw contacts, I used one side for the signal and the other side for LED indicators on my control panel.
The relays I bought were DC-only, so I drive them with a Capacitive Discharge circuit, along with my twin-coil switch machines. They won't work on AC. Also, unlike the switch machines, these relays are polarity sensitive, so you have to be aware of that when you wire them. I just connect them in parallel with the switch machines, so that when I throw the turnout, I throw the relay at the same time.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I need signals to grant permission to an operator to enter a block. I thought of somthing as simple as a target signal with a bi-color led controled by the dispatcher. Green for go (enter the block) and red for stop (do not enter).
On my previous layout I wired some dawarf signals to Tortise contacts to indicate which direction the switch points were thrown. On the new layout most of the turnouts will be hand thrown.
JIM
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
What do you want your signals to do? Is it important that they turn red as a train passes, go to yellow after a while and finally back to green? Do they need to work in concert with the control system to slow or stop trains? How many signals do you plan on having?
Or, do you want to create the illusion of a signal system? To me, creating the illusion is a lot of what model railroading is about. So, I just wire up signals to turnouts, and use them as turnout-position indicators. They go back and forth between green and red, and if I don't obey the signals, I'm likely to end up with a derailment, at least from the frog side.
Turnout-indicator signals are simple to implement, and require nothing more complicated than a cheap relay wired in parallel with your switch machine. If you're using Tortoises, the contact closures you need are already part of the switch machine, so all you need is wires.
Gate 5
I model the KCS in the 1980s and this part of the KCS system was operated by ABS signals. I will need to develop a signal system for my layout. I understand basic electronics and computer programing, but I am looking for a "plug & play" signal system. I have Digitrax Chief (radio). I have a computer interface with my layout and use Decoder Pro. I have looked at the Atlas Signal System and the Digitrax Signal System. Anyone have any experience in doing this?