I have done some internet research already, and am having a hard time finding what I'm looking for.
My prototype railroad, a backwoodsy Idaho shortline, installed a rudimentary warning flasher at one of their grade crossings back in the '60's. The flahsers themselves were two truck taillights mounted to the crossing signpost, and apparently the crew actually activated the flashers using a radio transmitter in the engine. This sounds like a job for a stationary DCC decoder! Except, which one?
I can see there are several on the market that include detection, flasher outputs, bell effects and crossing gate activation. Much too complicated (and pricey) for my needs. Can anyone recommend a simpler, less expensive, stationary decoder that will allow my layout crew to dial up the address and turn the flasher on as they approach the crossing (and turn it off as they clear it), and simply provide the alternating flashing effect for two red miniature lamps?
Thanks in advance,
Tom
Why go to all that trouble and expense when a simple toggle switch on the layout fascia that your "crew" can use to turn the signal on and off. A simple 555 timer circuit can be used to make the light(s) flash.
Not a bad idea about the toggle, but I was also hoping to use the DCC bus to power the flasher to simplify wiring i.e. no wall warts under the layout.
Check here: http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html
ROb has a million and one circuits, includingmultipel grade crossing flashing ones. FOr power, use 4x 1N5401 diodes in a bridge rectifier configuration and a filter capacitor to get DC fromt eh DCC bus. For one, not a big deal, bit to run a bunch of accessories off the DCC bus is a rather expensive way of doing things, since a DCC booster costs a lot more than a simple wall wart and some wire to string a DC power bus around the layout.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
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If all you are going to do is turn on and off the flashers think about using a locomotive decoders hyper light outputs. A simple Digitrax DH123 or TCS T1 decoder wired to the DCC buss would work. Just be sure to put a small load (I use a small light bulb or structure light across the motor leads) to facilitate programming.
You can set the address to whatever you like and activate it with the whistle or light button on your controller.
Now that you have mentioned it, I may give it a try myself on one of my lesser used crossings to see if I can make it work. I have been reluctant to spring for another detections system.
Good luck and thanks for stirring the pot for me.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
BRVRR If all you are going to do is turn on and off the flashers think about using a locomotive decoders hyper light outputs. A simple Digitrax DH123 or TCS T1 decoder wired to the DCC buss would work. Just be sure to put a small load (I use a small light bulb or structure light across the motor leads) to facilitate programming. You can set the address to whatever you like and activate it with the whistle or light button on your controller. Now that you have mentioned it, I may give it a try myself on one of my lesser used crossings to see if I can make it work. I have been reluctant to spring for another detections system. Good luck and thanks for stirring the pot for me.
I was thinking the same thing, but was going to suggest a decoder with a ditch light function.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.