On my new layout, I am using Peco Insulfrogs and relying on the spring to manually throw the point rails. Without a switching device such as a Tortoise, I was initially confronted with the issue of how to wire the Insulfrog to trackside signals and control panel LEDs.
There may be other/better ways to to accomplish the wiring, but my solution was to isolate the two ends of the turnout beyond the frog rail while feeding power through the tail end of the turnout. Then, I wired each stock rail to one leg of each trackside signal LED, green for straight through and red for divergent. I wired both inner frog rails together to the common wire (white) on each trackside signal LED. That works just fine with a resistor wired to each leg of each LED.
With regard to the control panel LEDs, I am using bi-polar LEDs. To accommodate the wiring from the inner frog rails, I use a 3-leg bi-polar LED with a resistor wired to the center leg of the LED, and that works just fine.
Question #1: Is this the best way to wire trackside signal LEDs and control panel LEDs, or are there more efficient methods?
On one of my control panels, I plan to gang selected groups of bi-polar LEDs together since all of the LEDs ganged together will light the same way for a given route.
Question #2: If I run the wiring from a single Peco Insulfrog to the first control panel LED, what is the most efficient way to wire the other ganged LEDs? Do I need to use 3-leg bi-polar LEDs for all of the ganged LEDs with a resistor on each center leg, or will a single resistor do? Is there a way to use a 3-leg bi-polar LED on the first LED and then use 2-leg LEDs on the remaining ganged LEDs?
I hope this all makes sense.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainQuestion #1: Is this the best way to wire trackside signal LEDs and control panel LEDs, or are there more efficient methods?
i would say yes if by efficient you mean fewest components and simplest circuit
richhotrainOn one of my control panels, I plan to gang selected groups of bi-polar LEDs together since all of the LEDs ganged together will light the same way for a given route.
what to you mean by "gang"?
isn't it common to indicate the path the turnout is aligned with a lit LED. not sure how position from multiple turnouts can be combined to indicate a route
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
greg, thanks for your reply.
On Question #1, Yes, I did mean fewest components and simplest circuit.
On Question #2, by "ganging" LEDs, I was referring to the fact that the routing of a single turnout would result in three control panel LEDs lighting up either all green or all red. So, the flipping of the points on a single turnout would cause a fixed series of 3 bi-polar LEDs to light up one way, either all green or all red.
That can easily be accomplished, but I am wondering how many or how few resistors I need to use and whether there is a way to use 2-leg bi-polar LEDs on the control panel.
richhotrainby "ganging" LEDs, I was referring to the fact that the routing of a single turnout would result in three control panel LEDs lighting up either all green or all red.
it's not obvious what you mean. do you mean there are 3 LEDs indicating the turnout position on one or more panels plus a signal on the layout. LEDs are wired in parallel or series?
I think that I figured out what I need to do.