The Digitrax SEC8 is what interfaces with your loconet and carries the ability to drive a few dozen signal heads of any kind.
It carries it's own power and only takes information off optical sensors or other sensors that does NOT take away power on your rails feeding your choo choo.
The SE8C is a good option for signaling if you have Digitrax, BUT... To get it all to work correctly you will also need block detection and a connection to a computer and program it. Installing an SE8C by itself won't cut it.
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.
Agreed.
Signalling requires it's own power, it's own information and sensors and THEN becomes part of the loconet.
I was going to drive B&O CPL's with this board and it was "waitaminnit!" there is alot more than just plunking a bunch of CPL's and a board into the layout.
I'm still learning and one day it will all work.
Falls Valley RR wrote: Agreed.Signalling requires it's own power, it's own information and sensors and THEN becomes part of the loconet.I was going to drive B&O CPL's with this board and it was "waitaminnit!" there is alot more than just plunking a bunch of CPL's and a board into the layout.I'm still learning and one day it will all work.
See the other Signals thread and I will tell you what our club is using for B&O CPL's.
The trains slow down because of the Atlas current sensing detector. It is an anolog detector and the track current passes through the electronics. If you use a Daylee or NCE detector, this will not happen.
The signal system was developed by Atlas and Custom Signals. Most of the signals are o-scale, but Custom Signals also carries the Atlas HO and N. If you go to www.customsignals.com , you will see all the electronics available for the complete system. It is modular so you only buy the parts that you need. It will give both ABS and APB signaling using the different PCBs. Using the Track Configuration Library, you can work up a plan specifically for your layout.
Bigiron,
I think the other guy's are right. The ATLAS detector is for DC and I do not think it is intended for DCC. I plan to use some old Digitrax BD-1's, shows you how old I am. Digi Trax has multi input block detectors as well. I use an MRC DCC control system.
The Atlas signal system would, could use most types of block ocupation detectors intended for DCC, after all, what you are doing is just indicating if a loco, or rolling stock with resistor wheel sets, are in a block. Control with DCC is separate from block ocupation detection.
The ATLAS signal boards will take these ocupation inputs and determine the aspect of the signals based on their capability, number and use of tracks etc etc. If you go to the ATLAS website these circuit boards are well defined as to what they will do. ATLAS gives you a website that has many more pieces of equipment that will work with these along with an entire library of track configuration and desired signalling. it is quite impressive.
Hope this helps, I am glad to see you are looking at these ATLAS signals I am quite impressed with them. Chris