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turnout signal lights

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  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Aurora Ontario Canada
  • 40 posts
turnout signal lights
Posted by Aceman on Monday, November 3, 2008 11:17 PM

hi i have e-z track dcc turnouts and i was wondering if they make some kind of light that can hook up to the turnouts that will change colour when i switch the turnouts

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:26 AM

The decoder that's in those EZ turnouts does not support anything like that; it's a one function decoder designed only to change the turnout position.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Aurora Ontario Canada
  • 40 posts
Posted by Aceman on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 12:25 PM

So theres no way to wire something into the turnouts

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 12:52 PM

The turnouts have no option for special wiring as they get their power and DCC signals from the track.  These EZ command turnouts are not intended to give any feedback via led's or lights indicating direction.  Unless you think you can modify the turnout itself I can think of no way you can wire direction indicators to these turnouts.  Perhaps you could come up with some way of using the throw bar to activate separate switches to indicate direction with led's but that's not a simple solution at best.

It is my feeling that EZ track and it's components were not really intended for "advanced" model railroading applications. My 2 cents

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 2,268 posts
Posted by NeO6874 on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 1:01 PM

 well, you could wire something up to them... but definitely not through the decoder...

 

I don't know how much space (if any) there is to add a dpdt switch, but you could potentially use one of those to control two LEDs/lamps... I'm thinking an overly complex rube goldberg type device Wink.


-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

  • Member since
    November 2007
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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 2:56 PM

NeO6874
I'm thinking an overly complex rube goldberg type device Wink.

 

Something like this?

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 3:46 PM

Yeah, the only thing I can think of would be to have a rod go through the tabletop from the turnout throw bar to a slide switch or other switch type mounted below the table that can switch led's or lights.  The only question I would have is whether the turnout and related linkage would be strong enough to move the switch?

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Aurora Ontario Canada
  • 40 posts
Posted by Aceman on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 4:31 PM

What other turnouts could i use that would work with my e-z track that i would be able to do what i like

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:39 PM

Aceman
What other turnouts could i use that would work with my e-z track that i would be able to do what i like

 

It's not the turnout that is the issues at hand, it's the switch machine and/or decoder that is attached to the EZ track that limits you doing what you want.

For instance, if you used a manual EZ track turnout with an under table switch machine like a tortise you could easily wire led's to indicate direction.

Others may be able to be more helpful where decoders are concerned.  DCC is not my forte thus far.

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