I'm thinking of using LED lights to indicate when staging turnouts are set on the diverging track. It's kind of overkill, but as I use the lever-type turnout control and I can see the position, but I'd like a red light to get my attention. I have a 3V AC to DC power adapter I was thinking of using to power it. The plan is to solder 24 guage wire to the same track on both sides of the turnout so that the points complete the circuit. Am I missing something?
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
RR_MelOOPS! That would work with no power in the rails.
12V wouldn't be too good for the LED either.
Come to think of it, the lever pull has connectors for lights.
Chip,
Remind me, DCC or DC? And what are you using for a switch mechanism? Blue point DPDT? Is the LED on the panel or on the layout as a drawf signal?
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
DCC, and the mechanism is a cable pull by Humpyard.
The LED would be near the panel, so attaching it to the connectors on the lever itself would work. Theoretically I can tell if the switch is thrown by the lever position, but I'm hoping to idiot proof it by using a red light.
On page 3, they have directions for powering a frog. I would use a similar method, but have one of the whiskers also backfeed to the LED you wish to light.http://humpyard.com/Instructions/INSTRSHT3.pdf
SpaceMouse Theoretically I can tell if the switch is thrown by the lever position, but I'm hoping to idiot proof it by using a red light.
Theoretically I can tell if the switch is thrown by the lever position, but I'm hoping to idiot proof it by using a red light.
First off, love the levers. Very cool.
Second off, I should point out some wisdom of the ages . . . "A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
Sorry. Couldn't resist. Good luck.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK SpaceMouse Theoretically I can tell if the switch is thrown by the lever position, but I'm hoping to idiot proof it by using a red light. First off, love the levers. Very cool. Second off, I should point out some wisdom of the ages . . . "A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." Sorry. Couldn't resist. Good luck. Robert
ROBERT PETRICK "A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
You're right. I should probably add kill switches to my staging tracks, too.
Or the other version, everytime someone invents the next foolproof gadget, the world invents a better fool.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.