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Crossing light flash rate

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Crossing light flash rate
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 31, 2004 5:09 PM
On a prototype system, what is the actual flash rate of the lights on the crossbuck? How long is each light on? Do the lights on the other side fla***he same (left light this side on same time as right one on other side?)

I think I can build a flasher much cheaper than I can buy one. [;)]

Working with N scale, I don't know if my eyes are good enough to build the crossbuck itself....hmmm, anybody know the dimensions off hand?[?]

Hope you all have a very Happy New Year![:)]

Tim T
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Friday, December 31, 2004 7:21 PM
Prototype crossing signals flash at a rate of once per second. The way they are wired, back-to-back lights come on at the same time, and lights on both sides of the crossing are in sync.. Looking at both crossbucks from one side of the track, the left lights would both be on, and from the other side of the track it would be the right lights on both.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 2, 2005 2:03 PM
When i read this the first thing that came to mind was an automotive turn signal flasher. It's 12 volt dc and just may be the ticket. Anyone have any feedback as i have never done this but it just crossed my mind as something that may work.
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Louisville,Ky.
  • 5,077 posts
Posted by locomutt on Sunday, January 2, 2005 2:18 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by k4shf

On a prototype system, what is the actual flash rate of the lights on the crossbuck? How long is each light on? Do the lights on the other side fla***he same (left light this side on same time as right one on other side?)

I think I can build a flasher much cheaper than I can buy one. [;)]

Working with N scale, I don't know if my eyes are good enough to build the crossbuck itself....hmmm, anybody know the dimensions off hand?[?]

Hope you all have a very Happy New Year![:)]

Tim T


When I left the business in 1985,the "Flash" rate was 40-45 times a minute.
The signals on the other side are in 'sync' with the ones that you are seeing.

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Christchurch New Zealand
  • 1,525 posts
Posted by NZRMac on Sunday, January 2, 2005 2:24 PM
Auto flashers usually rely on lamp resistance to turn on off (if a lamp is broken on your auto the rest flash faster) so you would need a few on a layout to flash at a resonable rate. and what would you do when the flasher is off?
you could drive a relay and some more resistance with the flasher but then it would tick when the crossing was active. Electronic is much better way and adjustable.

Ken.

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