using photo cells for animation

[ldjernes]

What devices or items to use to make animation work using photo cells as trains run by to start action? How do you wire the photo cells. I haVE DCC, so can use with or with out using DCC system.

[Mark R.]

What might work better and be more random would be a magnetic reed switch mounted between the rails. A magnet mounted on the bottom of an engine or car would trip it. That way it wouldn't trip every time a train passed, but more randomly with just the equipment that had a magnet.

 

Mark.

[Robert Frey]

You can also use IR light for animation.  (If you turn the room lights down on a photo cell, then your animation would have a false turn on.)

 

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/219552/2517965.aspx#2517965

 

In the above circuit, if the 680 ohm resistor, that current limits the LED, is replaced with a 5 Volt dc Reed  (about 500 ohm), then the contacts of the reed switch can operate your animation.  You need no magnet on the bottom of your train to make the reed switch work.  If you put a 470 uf capacitor on the 5 Volt dc coil, then about 1 second after the last car has passed, the reed switch will then open.

 

Bob Frey

[richg1998]

g

[nedthomas]

Try this site.

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html

[hon30critter]

Here is one source for ready made Infrared (IR) detection devices:

http://bouldercreekengineering.com/nightscope.php

As was previously stated, if you go with photocells you won't be able to run at night because the lack of room light will trip all the photocells. IR works day or night.

Robert Frey also offered an inexpensive do-it-yourself IR detection circuit in this thread. (To get the link to work, highlight it and then left click on the highlighted link. You will get a pop-up menu. Click on "Open Link").

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/219552.aspx

(Robert - interesting idea using the reed switch!)

Dave