Hello. Today i bought the BLMA Modern Cantilver Signal Bridge and a Atlas HO type G singnal target. I operate my layout with NCE Power Cab. Is there a signal sytem i can use booth The atlas and BLMA signals on the NCE power. and i could use some advice about Train detection.
Help Would be much Appreciated.
There really is no connection between the DCC system and those signals. The signals are powered by 'signal circuitry' that can get it's detection input from your DCC layout. Atlas does sell a DC detection unit, but it will not work on a DCC layout.
Signalling requires 3 parts:
There are multiple companies that sell detection/logic(Logic Rail/Integrated Signal Systems/South Bend Signals/etc...). You will find that the cost of a working signal system can ramp up real fast! Now, if you just want to 'power' those signals, I would not 'waste' DCC booster power on the signals. Get a small 'wall wart' with the needed voltage to power them....
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
atlas recommends another detector for use on dcc. i think one of them is made by nce. there is no electrical connection between the signal circuitry and dcc power. the atlas signal control circuits use 12 volts dc and the signal heads use 5 volts dc for the leds which the atlas circuit boards supply. if you dont use atlas control boards the leds will have to be in series with a 3300 ohm resistor to protect the leds. dallee makes a current detector with a dpdt relay that is so sensitive it will detect the current being drawn by an n scale decoder that is not even selected to run. if you use the atlas signal control boards they connect together with modular telepone cables between the boards and to the signal heads.
http://www.ncedcc.com/
NCE sells a few signaling system components. Look under "accessories".
Thank you for the reponses , i think im understanding this better.
I would love to use atlas signal system, but BLMA states that there signal can not operate on the atlas singal system. one of the signals is Common Anode and the other is Common Cathode. Thats the type of wireing correct? and is there a way to have these two diffrent types of wireing work under the same system?
lmsband Thank you for the reponses , i think im understanding this better. I would love to use atlas signal system, but BLMA states that there signal can not operate on the atlas singal system. one of the signals is Common Anode and the other is Common Cathode. Thats the type of wireing correct? and is there a way to have these two diffrent types of wireing work under the same system?
Yes, that's the way it's wired. LEDs have 2 terminals, an anode and a cathode. When you hook 3 of them together for a signal, usually one lead it tied together on all LEDs. Which one depends on which word is after 'common'. Common Cathode has the negative terminal in common with the positive terminal of each LED free, and common anode is the other way. The outputs of the signal circuit are designed to use one or the other. It IS possible to build a realtively simple electronic circuit to allow the two different types to talk. Some systems have this built in and you can select which type of signal you are driving.
Not sure which of the two is which, but most common anymore is common anode, with each control line being a 'sink' in that it switches the circuit to negative. Liek a DCC decoder - the blue wire common for all functions is the PLUS lead. Each function connection is the negative side. Back when this was all pretty much a DIY proposition, it didn;t matter because most signals had light bulbs and not LEDs - no polarity.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
ok i think i understand what you are saying.
Here is a quote from the BLMA website
" * Atlas Signal System users note! After a great deal of research, it was determined that the new Atlas signal circuits are wired for a common cathode configuration. Seeing as almost all other circuits and signals on the market are wired for common anode, we chose to go with the industry norm (common anode). That being said, it looks as though the Atlas circuits will not work with our bridge (or any other common anode signal product). We are working hard to find a solution to this. "
is it possible to put another brand of signal drive in with the atlas system?