ITT Sound Module install question

[kerrskountry]

Hi Y'all

I'm fairly new to the world of electronic accessories in model railroading and am going to take the plunge with my small 2 x 4 ft diorama.

I am building a cityscape with a point to point cable car route.  The track uses a Circuitron AR-2 reversing board with a delay of around 10 seconds at each point.  I would like to install an ITT cable car sound module to work with  the display.  My question is how to hook up the sound circuit where it will shut off when the car pauses at each end and turn back on when it reverses and continues along the track.  Can I use another pair of sensors to regulate the sound circuit?  Do I hook up the sensors directly to the sound module or is there some other board I need to get in order for this to work?  I'm thinking the sound should be simple to do but ......

Thanks for any assistance

Joe
Wanna Bea RR
Rockaway Beach MO

[cacole]

The ITT sound modules play for only 60 seconds and then stop, unless you wire a jumper to two of the terminals to make it play in a continuous loop.

The ITT modules require a voltage input of 9-18 Volts AC or DC, so through a lot of tinkering with the throttle that is going to control the speed of the cable car, you may be able to also power the sound module from the track power using the output of the AR-2.

If you can't get the sound module to work with the cable car's track power, you'll need to find an electrical relay and separate power supply for the ITT module that is triggered by the output of the AR-2.

 

[gatrhumpy]

You just have to find a way to wire up so the sound stops when the trolley stops, and starts up again. In other words, some type of electronic push-button switch.

Maybe add a photo resister that will detect the end of the trolley car. Install the photoresistor at the tail end , inside the track. When the photoresistor detects the tail end of the trolley, it will turn the sound off. Install another photoresistor to turn the sound back on, but far enough away from the other so so it will come on shortly after it moves. To do this you will need a total of four (4) photoresistors on your track.

[kerrskountry]

This was my first thought though I didn't know the workings of the sensor.  Now if I somehow electrically hook uo the sensors directly to the sounds power won't I need a detection card of some type.  How can you wire four sensors to one pair of input wires?  Does the sensor stay off when covered and switch on after the train leaves or does it stay off until another sensor is activated?  Or..... am I making this more complicated than it really is?
Can you tell I'm new to this?!

Thanks,
Joe

[gatrhumpy]

You would need a crossing signal detector, like from NJ International, like the one below:

http://www.njinternational.com/FlashMaster.pdf

You probably don't need the "hold" detector in the drawing, just the left and right. Not sure if you can wire two sensors in parallel, you'll have to read the drawing. The output would then be the sound.

[gatrhumpy]

Or try the StationMaster from the same company.