Hello
This newbie needs help with turnout indicator lights. I am in the process of building an N scale Kato track layout, using the NCE Power Pro starter set.
I was looking into ordering Digitrax DS 64 stationary decoders to control my turnouts and was wondering if there is a turnout signal indicator product (that will indicate whether the turnout is straight, green, or turned, red) that will work with N scale,Kato #6, powered turnouts and Digitrax DS 64 Stationary decoders?
What have other Kato users done to have signal indicator lights?
How do you plan to switch turnout (e.g. Tortoise, Rix, etc.??) If you use a Tortoise, it is easy. Just hook up LED's to the outputs and BAM... you got lights... www.wiringfordcc.com has the plans for all this if you want.
Brian
Hi Brian,
I plan to use DCC to switch the turnouts using DCC DS 64 decoders on my NCE procab.
Well, I don't know much about using the DCC signal from the mentioned stationary decoder, but if you plan on using motors, the ones with outputs (e.g. Tortoise) make it really simple. If you use the decoder, you may get stuck with using the signalled vs. the ACTUAL position... subtle difference that matters not to me, but to some "experts" it does.
P.S. If you are using the power from your procab to power the tortoises, it will suck some of the juice from your layout...
ShadowNix wrote:Well, I don't know much about using the DCC signal from the mentioned stationary decoder, but if you plan on using motors, the ones with outputs (e.g. Tortoise) make it really simple. If you use the decoder, you may get stuck with using the signalled vs. the ACTUAL position... subtle difference that matters not to me, but to some "experts" it does.BrianP.S. If you are using the power from your procab to power the tortoises, it will suck some of the juice from your layout...
It seems that the original poster is using the Kato Unitrack product and the switch motors are built-in to the turnout, so no Tortoise or other switch machine/motor is needed. The problem still exists about getting an indication of turnout position.
de N2MPU Jack
Proud NRA Life Member and supporter of the 2nd. Amendment
God, guns, and rock and roll!
Modeling the NYC/NYNH&H in HO and CPRail/D&H in N
Jackn2mpu
That is correct, the Kato turnouts have the motors built into the turnouts, they will be powered through the the dcc digitrax stationary switch decoder which will have a separate power feed.
Thanks for everyones resonses
If the Kato turnout motors are solenoid motors (which I think they are), then they only have power to them the instant the turnout is thrown. There is no continuous power being fed to them. If this is the case, there is a way to make lighted turnout indicators for them, but it's not for the faint of heart; requires soldering a bunch of electronic components together. Maybe more trouble than you might want, but then again, maybe not. Check out the following website and click on "more circuits" on the left:
www.awrr.com
I am in the process of building the indicator circuits for my twin-coil Atlas turnout machines, and it took me several evenings to get half of my 14 turnouts done. I still have 7 left waiting for me when I get back from Iraq.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
PhillyF wrote: HelloThis newbie needs help with turnout indicator lights. I am in the process of building an N scale Kato track layout, using the NCE Power Pro starter set.I was looking into ordering Digitrax DS 64 stationary decoders to control my turnouts and was wondering if there is a turnout signal indicator product (that will indicate whether the turnout is straight, green, or turned, red) that will work with N scale,Kato #6, powered turnouts and Digitrax DS 64 Stationary decoders?What have other Kato users done to have signal indicator lights?
I don't have Kato, but I do have EZ Track.
You may or may not be able to make it out on the picture, but what I did was use DPDT switches that pointed the the direction of the turnout and lit the appropriate light, then had a MOM to activate it. So basically for each move, you threw a switch to light the light, then pushed a button to throw the turnout.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
NCE Switch-Kat. Can have indicator lights and push button control. For the indicator lights you have to solder the light leads to the board and will only control 1 turnout. I was thinking about the same thing.
Gary
Thanks for all the advice,
This is some task for someone who built a model rail road 14 years ago. I figured I would jump into DCC and ordered the NCE Power Cab. After debating with myself whether or not to by switch decoders I finally decided yes, and now I'm up to turnout indicator lights. Wow.
I think all order one DS 64 for my yard which will go without indicator lights and also order 6 or so switch kats and connect the indicator lights to them.
Does anyone know which LED indicator lights I should order and from whom?
Will the new atlas signals work here with the switch kats?
Glenn - keep me posted interested in hearing about your progress
PhillyF wrote: Does anyone know which LED indicator lights I should order and from whom?
You can get LEDs just about anywhere at a good price. Even Radio Snack has em but I am partial to demar electronics
http://www.demarelectronics.com/
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
I have a quick question regarding the switch kat switches, If I purchase the switch kats - where do you house them ? I'm not sure where to house the circuit board. I plan on housing my NCE main power cirrcuit board in a small cardboard box which I'll paint and add terrain effects.
The switch kats pose an interesting problem or issue. I think they are 3" in lenght, any suggestions?
I've never opened a kato switch even if I could this board is probably to large to fit in the switch. I don't think it would be wise to place the board under the switch.
My layout is in a cold gargage and is constructed with foam which sits flat on tables, sounder the layout is not viable
Your thoughts are appreciated
I have purchased hundreds of LED's from the following site:
http://www.moreleds.com/railroad.htm
I have been very happy with their LED's plus they provide all the electronic specs should you need them.
I've wired up indicator lights to cheap relays which I activate in parallel with the switch machines. I got my relays at Demar Electronics, but I think they have them a lot cheaper at www.allelectronics.com. I used DC relays, which will not work properly on AC. Once I built a Capacitive Discharge circuit, both my turnouts and the relays worked much better. (The CD circuit is always DC.) The relays I got are polarity sensitive, unlike the twin-coil swich machines, so that's something else to watch out for.
I used two-color, 3-lead Red/Green LEDs for my indicators. I put them both on the control panel and trackside as signals on the frog-ends of turnouts in the tunnels.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
PhillyF wrote:Claymore - is there a electronic manufactor that sells the leds in housing; the signals already made?
Well ususally you will find that the LEDs and the housings are sold seperate but sometimes, and for a premium cost too, you can find them together.
FYI, i use Radio Shacks website as a starting point as it helps my 'worst case' $$ planning when specing out a project. http://www.newark.com is a good bulk item/research shop.
If you would like some indicators that are a little more "railroady" than plain LEDs, take a look at:
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&pa=136282CM&productId=136282
and it's green brother:
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&pa=235416CM&productId=235416
You can make Red/Green indicators by swapping out the LEDs so you have Red/Green in each.
Mike Tennent