MAS-Sequencer-4 from Heathcote for n scale?

[Chartiers]

Anyone use the MAS Sequencer from Heathcote

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Has anyone used and installed the MAS-SEQUENCER-4 product from Heathcote Electronics on their n scale layout?

 

The product is on their web site at http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/P31MASsl.htm

I ran across it while searching for infrared train detection and signaling animation. Was curious how well it worked and the size of the detection devices that would go between n scale track. 

 

Jim

[jrbernier]

  That looks like about $22 US per block for each direction($44 for both ways).  And this is for British prototype signalling!

  If you are looking for IR/photocell US style signal systems, check out the following URL's:

http://www.logicrailtech.com/

http://www.sbsignal.com/

  Both of the above systems will cost about $30/block(both directions), not including the signals.  No one ever said that a working signal system was inexpensive! 

Jim Bernier

 

[Chartiers]

Your certainly right in that working signaling can quickly become expensive.  The Heathcote site indicates that their MAC-Sequencer can be configured for various signal aspects: 2 (Reg/Green), 3 (Red/Yellow/Green) or 4 (Red/Yellow/DoubleYellow/Green).  I could be reading it wrong, but it looks like signal aspect 2 or 3 would be typical American prototype signaling. 

The cost trade-off of having signaling in both directions per block isn't a benefit for me as I only plan to implement signaling on the double track main in the primary direction of travel. A much bigger advantage to me comes with finding a signal animation product that has the right train detection method included.

Since my layout is in a poor lighting area and I like to operate in a night scene, I thinking that either across-the-tracks or between-the-rails IR detection would be a good choice.   Across-the-tracks gets harder to hide for a double-track main.

Thanks for the links.  I like the Signal Animation product from Logic Rail Technologies, but it comes with a light sensitive photocell which would not work for me.  They do have an application note on their web site that says you can use a between-the-rails IR sensor to trigger their product.   The sensor is too large for n scale track and they are about to change the note to also say that a 1/8" wide strip of tape needs to be applied to the bottom of each engine and car for that particular sensor to work.  Another option they list is using a IR detector from Heathcote which is not cost effective at all.

I have not checked the other site you mentioned yet but initially there doesn't seem to be much documentation available on-line.

I think the bottom line is that the one from Heathcote, with the option of 18" sensor leads, still appears to be a good option at least until I find otherwise.

What I think would be really cool was to find a very limited range IR self contained sensor that would fit in a n-scale size trackside relay cabinet.  Limited range in the sense that you could have one on each side of the main and they would only detect trains on the track closest to them.

Jim 

  

  

 

 

  

 

[cacole]

In addition to the Logic Rail Technologies product line, which I use on my HO scale home layout (Grade Crossing Pro), I recently installed a TDP/NJI ABSMaster Automatic Block Signal Controller.

I use side-looking infrared LEDs and detectors manufactured by Fairchild Semiconductor set at coupler height to control both systems due to the variable light conditions.  The Fairchild device number QEE123 Plastic Infrared Light Emitting Diode and QSE113 Plastic Silicon Infrared Phototransistor are a matching pair that work very well.  These devices are both available from Mouser Electronics or Digi-Key.

The web site for the ABSMaster is http://www.trainspeed.com

 

[Chartiers]

The QEE123 and QSE113 are nice looking side-look devices that come in a small package. Do these guys have to look at themselves in an across-the-track configuration or could they sit side-by-side and get their energy to change state from the reflection off of the side of engines/cars? 

[cacole]

Across the track is the way they work because the beam being broken triggers the circuit, not reflected IR energy.

You could use IR Dot devices, which uses reflected IR, and the circuits would probably still perform okay.

[Chartiers]

Thanks, that's what I thought.  I just finished building a circuit designed by Rob Paisley using some 3mm ones across-the-tracks to trigger the NJI crossbucks.  Any specific recommendations on small IR dot devices?

[modelmaker51]

Dallee Electronics is another option, I've used both current and IR detectors on various types of layouts and they're bullet proof. www.dallee.com

[Chartiers]

Just wanted to close this thread with what I did.

I now have a working day-or-night 3 aspect simulation signal on the layout thanks to the MAS-Sequencer-4 from Heathcote Electronics in England. When a train just passes the signal it turns from green to red.  A yellow signal will appear after the train passes the signal and a time delay has occurred.  After another time delay, the signal will return to green to await the next train that comes.   I use the term red/yellow/green for clarity, but signals used on the Pennsylvania Railroad really show three different positions of amber lights. The Sequencer board can also be ordered for 2 aspect (red/green) or 4 aspect (red/yellow/double yellow/green) signaling if so desired. 

 

My layout is in a low light room and I sometimes run trains at night (e.g. after the wife goes to bed) so I wanted a solution to the simulated signaling that would work in that environment. Before someone asks, Logic Rail makes a very nice board that does the same type of signal simulation but it relies on light sensitive photocells. The board from Heathcote is the only one I could find that includes small infrared (IR) devices.

 

The Sequencer has two 3mm infrared detectors that go between-the-rail (under the space between two ties) and "looks up" to sense the presence of train.  I ordered the optional 18" leads on the detectors as I had to drill up through the hollow-core door base of the layout, 1" of foam, the cork roadbed, and have enough lead left to route it to the location under the layout where I wanted to mount the circuit board. 

 

The installed IR detectors have worked perfectly in the detecting of n scale engines and rolling stock.  I have not seen any false starts or "flickering" as a train goes by.  The Sequencer board(s) can also be linked together as shown on the Heathcote web site but I don't plan on doing that on my small layout.

 

For my application of signal simulation, the MAS-Sequencer-4 board from Heathcote has been a good product that performs flawlessly.  Jim