I was given several great looking signals for my layout. I have several questions. All of the signals have two targets with RED & Green grain of wheat bulbs meaning 4 bulbs and 8 black wires. I have extended the wires and now have them all in pairs. All lights work.
1. Can you use incandescent bulbs with an Arduino system? All videos show LED's
2. If you can not use Arduino would you use Current Sensors or IR Sensors? system?
3. Can you use incandescent bulbs with both Current or IR systems? All I keep seeing is LED's
4. What exactly do I need to put the system together? Be SPECIFIC.
Manufactures, Part Description, Part # if possible. Every thing I see talks about LED's
Thanks in Advance
Harold
How do you intend to use the signals? If your goal is simply as turnout position indicators, Ike most of mine, that's simple. If you're looking for block occupancy and detection, that's a lot more complicated.
Can you replace the incandescent bulbs with LEDs? With a Transition Era layout, I like my incandescent bulbs for structure and street lighting. However, I use LEDs for crossing signals. They look just fine.
Sooner or later, an incandescent bulb will burn out, and you'll have to replace it anyway. It will be easier now before it's installed on a layout.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
That would be to simple. I have to do it the hard way. Train will trip signal. I also have a bunch of wheels with Resistors if I choose to go that way. It would be hard to change the bulbs to LED's at this point the way the signals are.
I use Logic Rail Signal Animator boards for "animating" nearly all my signals.
The SBCA model is designed to handle incandescent bulbs, instructions here:
https://www.logicrailtech.com/SA2-SBCA%20instructions.pdf
IF you want true "block signal" protection they offer boards for that, too but I simply use the IR detection and allow the signal to "time out" after the last car clears the detector.
Good Luck, Ed
wolfman hal4. What exactly do I need to put the system together? Be SPECIFIC.
do you just want to show a STOP signal when a block is detected?
wolfman hal1. Can you use incandescent bulbs with an Arduino system?
wolfman halIf you can not use Arduino would you use Current Sensors or IR Sensors?
wolfman hal3. Can you use incandescent bulbs with both Current or IR systems? All I keep seeing is LED's
which current sensor circuit?
an IR sensor (i.e. photo transistor) could be used, but would need a transistor just like a typical digital output would need
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I would use Arduino to set up the system. A train running over a IR to trip the relay. I just want the signal to show that the block is detected to signal a following train.
Which current Sencor I could use is my question.
Yes you can drive incandescent bulbs with a Arduino! I made a expansion board with high current driver chips. Each chip has 7 channels each channel is capable of 500ma or a half amp.This is a NANO expansion board for a pair of crossing flashers.This is a drawing of a crossing controller including gate servos.I operate all my 12 volt Grain of Wheat bulbs at 70% voltage, much more realistic and greatly increases bulb life. I’ve only had to replace a couple of bulbs operating on reduced voltage in 30 years.The controller (Arduino) can run off a 8½ volt supply and the onboard chip drives the high current incandescent bulbs.If you are interested drop me an email, my personal email is in my profile.The Arduino is an amazing model railroad goodie. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
wolfman halI would use Arduino to set up the system. A train running over a IR to trip the relay. I just want the signal to show that the block is detected to signal a following train.
some detectors have dual outputs one inverted, active when not-occupied and one non-inverting.
transistor/resistors can be added so that the it can drive bulbs at high voltage than the detector operates at
Do you know any manufactures ( Model #) of these and how do you know the size of the Transistor/resistor?
Let’s start over from the top.Are you running DC or DCC?What type detection are you looking for?How many heads, Red and Green or Red, Yellow and Green?Do you have a signal controller?How many signals will you have?I use three color LEDs, single head signals with an Arduino controller and optical IR detection. Visual only signals, no functions for controlling train movement. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
From the tp
1. Running DCC
2. Detecting train going passed Signal
3. @ Targets per stand. Red and Green Grain of Wheat bulbs
4. No Signal controller yet. That what I am asking
5. 3 signal 2 -2Targets 1-Single target
How many blocks or signals?My controller handles up to 16 blocks using a Arduino Mega.What type of detection?I use reflective IR detectors, the Arduino FC-51. They are fairly large but the actual 3mm sensors can be remotely located and they can be replaced with tiny SMT sensors.https://artofcircuits.com/product/infrared-obstacle-avoidance-proximity-sensors-module-fc-51 Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
wolfman halhow do you know the size of the Transistor/resistor?
unless you want approach signals, don't see any need for an Arduino
GregI agree, if he doesn’t have approach or multiple blocks there is no need for an Arduino. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
I agree. Will any Current Sensors work as long as I use a resistor in line?
( incandescaent bulbs)? Do any that you know allow you to use a seperate signal from one control I do I have to get a seperate sensor for each signal.
To get help you need to have a plan on how you want it to work. List all items so that we know what your working with.So far it adds up to toggle switches. Obstacle detection is normally a low current switch, on off which means only on when it is detecting something. Abruptly on and off. A simple photo switch will do that.EDIT:
Include specifiations, voltages, quantity, etc. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
My Arduino MEGA signal controller will work with any obstacle detector that has a switched ground output from each block. It will operate any three color LED signal and up to 500ma bulbs with high current driver chips. It will control 16 blocks with detectors using a simple truth table.
Bivar SMTL4 TRI Color SMD LED
Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
wolfman halWill any Current Sensors work as long as I use a resistor in line?
that can't be answered for certain without knowing the current and voltage requirement is for the bulbs you want to use. but in general, a transistor/resistor can usually always be added to drive a higher current device
wolfman hal( incandescaent bulbs)? Do any that you know allow you to use a seperate signal from one control I do I have to get a seperate sensor for each signal.
i've only used custom detection circuits. a board might have multiple detectors.
If a current detector board could be used to drive more then one block I would only need to but one board. If each were seperate I would need to buy a board for each signal..
How many signals do you have? You will need a current detector for each signal. Each signal will represent one block.My layout has 14 mainline blocks and one siding. I use several optical IR detectors in each block. For bidirectional signaling that’s 28 Mainline signals. A single Arduino MEGA handles drives all 14 blocks. I do not have signals in the hidden areas in my mountains but the hidden area block detectors must be used.
Not to bad, 12 Mel scratch built three color searchlight signals at about $4.50 each. Two store bought signal bridges $36 each. Two Arduino Mega controllers $30, $155 total signal system plus the IR sensors at 60₵ each.
Beautiful work mel. By the way 84 is good. Same age and still hiking mountains.
Well I’m not doing that good, but that’s another topic.How about doing a fairly good size post on what you have ending up with what you would like to end up with. There is a lot involved with a model railroad signaling system. Pictures would help.Multiple lights wither LED or incandescent need to be turned on and off as well as the length of each cycle. My norm is to go berserk with overkill with everything but it has to work trouble free.Over the years I have used all kinds of signaling systems as well as obstacle detection. My first detection was the Twin T circuit in the late 60s and believe it or not it worked the best. Every thing went super until DCC appeared for me in 2006. Since then I tried several DCC current detection systems and wasn’t happy with any of them. DCC is temperamental at best so current detection fell out of view.Optical works but gets quite cumbersome in the installation. I finally settled on the Arduino FC-51 for ease and cost, at 49¢ each that clinched it.My health has dinged my working on my layout so my IR detection system isn’t complete but works good enough for me now. Where it is complete it works great, not one problem.Here is a link to my blog optical system.https://melvineperry.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_49.htmlMel
My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California Turned 84 last July, aging is definitely not for wimps.
Mel
Hope you feel better.
I have reached my answer. I have just purchased a Logic Rail BA/2-SBCA-IR.
This will give me the ability to place two signal in different location and be able to deal with the Incandescents. As you can see it is an IR system so I don't have to worry about light.
I appreciate all the help from all of you.
Although my Arduino circuit drives relays, the priniciple is the same. Using a transistor and resistor booster to allow the low voltage and current of the Arduino output to drive a device with higher voltage and/or current requirements. In the upper right corner of the diagram below is the "Relay Booster". It uses 2N2222 transistors and 1 K resistors to drive the higher current relays as described in the diagram. Just substitute your incandescent lamps for the relays. The 2N2222 can drive about 600 mA at 30 volts but it's wise to keep that well below the limits.