rrinker Someone mentioned using a diode before me, but they said of the lights were LEDs. The diode works just as well with lamps. --Randy
Someone mentioned using a diode before me, but they said of the lights were LEDs. The diode works just as well with lamps.
--Randy
Yeah, I see that now. But Hamltnblue only indicated a diode for LEDs, not incandescents. You pointed out that a diode would work for either type of lamp, so advantage rrinker.
Rich
Alton Junction
rrinker SOmeone mentioned using a diode before me, but they said of the lights were LEDs. The diode works just as well with lamps. You do mean DC power supply though, right? With an AC power supply is what you will get is a dim green and bright red in one direction and a dim red and bright green in the other. --Randy
SOmeone mentioned using a diode before me, but they said of the lights were LEDs. The diode works just as well with lamps.
You do mean DC power supply though, right? With an AC power supply is what you will get is a dim green and bright red in one direction and a dim red and bright green in the other.
Randy, the lamps are Incandescents, not LEDs. Model Power does not in the instruction sheet that the lamps can be powered either way, AC or DC. I tested the wiring arrangement on a 9 volt battery.
railwayop,
Try typing that again. No can read.
richhotrainI misstated a point about the diode in my previous post. Both bulbs would not light in either direction regardless of the posiiton of the diode. However, you may need to reverse the position of the diode if the green stays lit in either position but the red stays lit in only one position. Rich
I misstated a point about the diode in my previous post. Both bulbs would not light in either direction regardless of the posiiton of the diode. However, you may need to reverse the position of the diode if the green stays lit in either position but the red stays lit in only one position.
Someone else mentioned a diode first, they just said for LEDs - it works just as well for lamps.
I guess you mean DC power supply - with an AC power supply what will happen is you will get a dim green and bright red in one positoon, and a dim red and bright green the other way.
As drawn the polarities are correct - if it should happen to not work properly when you go to hook it up, reverse the diode. If it's the wrong way you'll get green in both positions and red in one instead of red in both with green in the other.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
richhotrain Randy got it right. You need a diode to block green from lighting in one position while red lights in either position. I have Model Power #1862 which is quite similar to #1864, so I tested the wiring for this purpose. As you noted, the wires are not color coded, so you need to experiment (trial and error) to get it right. There are 4 black wires, a positive and negative for each bulb. Make sure the diode faces the correct direction as shown in the attached schematic. If both bulbs light in either direction, you have to flip the diode. Check out my crude diagram. Rich
Randy got it right. You need a diode to block green from lighting in one position while red lights in either position.
I have Model Power #1862 which is quite similar to #1864, so I tested the wiring for this purpose. As you noted, the wires are not color coded, so you need to experiment (trial and error) to get it right. There are 4 black wires, a positive and negative for each bulb. Make sure the diode faces the correct direction as shown in the attached schematic. If both bulbs light in either direction, you have to flip the diode.
Check out my crude diagram.
Hi Rich:
BRILLIANT absolutely BRILLIANT!!! I can't thank you enough especially for the diagram - I've got to get down to the electronic store and get a diode and will mess around and see if can get this to work now!!! This is just great am really excited about this.
Thanks to you and everyone for their help and suggestions - I'll also upload a pix when get it installed on my layout (I uploaded some of my layout pixs to the community under railwayop and GO Transit if interested in a few shots I took)
Man, if this works out I have a few other signals of that same model/make and am going to go happily diode crazy doing the rest!
Thanks again - Robbie
richhotrain dehusman: railwayop: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? Should be pretty easy. The slide switch would be attached to only the top head. The bottom head is red all the time and can be hard wired red (doesn't need to go through the slide switch at all). .The top head would be wired so one side of the green and red bulbs goes to common. the red bulb would be wired to on position of the switch and the green bulb to the other. Move the side one way the switch goes green over red (clear), move the slide switch the other way it goes red over red (stop). Dave, If I understand the #1684 correctly, the bulbs are incandescents, red on top and green on bottom. They are not bi-polar LEDs, so your solution won't work. Again, if I understand the #1684 correctly and what the OP is trying to do, he wants to have red and green (top and bottom) lit in one position and only red (top) lit in the other position. Is that correct, railwayop? Rich
dehusman: railwayop: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? Should be pretty easy. The slide switch would be attached to only the top head. The bottom head is red all the time and can be hard wired red (doesn't need to go through the slide switch at all). .The top head would be wired so one side of the green and red bulbs goes to common. the red bulb would be wired to on position of the switch and the green bulb to the other. Move the side one way the switch goes green over red (clear), move the slide switch the other way it goes red over red (stop).
railwayop: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how?
Should be pretty easy.
The slide switch would be attached to only the top head.
The bottom head is red all the time and can be hard wired red (doesn't need to go through the slide switch at all).
.The top head would be wired so one side of the green and red bulbs goes to common. the red bulb would be wired to on position of the switch and the green bulb to the other.
Move the side one way the switch goes green over red (clear), move the slide switch the other way it goes red over red (stop).
Dave,
If I understand the #1684 correctly, the bulbs are incandescents, red on top and green on bottom. They are not bi-polar LEDs, so your solution won't work.
Again, if I understand the #1684 correctly and what the OP is trying to do, he wants to have red and green (top and bottom) lit in one position and only red (top) lit in the other position.
Is that correct, railwayop?
Hi!
Yes, Rich that's right (where want red/green on together ( SLOW TO CLEAR or DIVERGING TO CLEAR) and only red after train knocks down the signal (with a manual shift of the slider switch)
I think "dehusman" may be on to something! Leaving the red solid and just have the green go on and off - brilliant!
Now, coming down the signal post inside are the red and green wires and a single black (common?) so am assuming then both the red/green bulbs are attached inside the post to the one common wire??? If that's correct, should I try to determine which is the common then separate it from the 2 bulbs and have separate common or would that matter???
Its a real mess of black painted and glued wires at the back of the signal target going into the signal post so I can't tell what is what or would that matter from what is being suggested?
Robbie
dehusman railwayop: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? Should be pretty easy. The slide switch would be attached to only the top head. The bottom head is red all the time and can be hard wired red (doesn't need to go through the slide switch at all). .The top head would be wired so one side of the green and red bulbs goes to common. the red bulb would be wired to on position of the switch and the green bulb to the other. Move the side one way the switch goes green over red (clear), move the slide switch the other way it goes red over red (stop).
railwayop Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how?
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
rrinker No, without a diode, this would mean that both lights would be on in either switch position. The diode trick will work for a light bulb or LED. --Randy
No, without a diode, this would mean that both lights would be on in either switch position.
The diode trick will work for a light bulb or LED.
Ahh, I see what you mean. The diode will keep the current flowing in only one direction?
richhotrainI'm no wiring expert, but this sounds like an ON-OFF-ON switch. The center contact is common, the A contact is for red light, and the B contact is for green light. Couldn't you simply jumper the A contact to the B contact so that when the slider switch is moved to the B contact, both red and green will light? When the slider switch is moved to the A contact, only the red light will be on. Rich
I'm no wiring expert, but this sounds like an ON-OFF-ON switch.
The center contact is common, the A contact is for red light, and the B contact is for green light.
Couldn't you simply jumper the A contact to the B contact so that when the slider switch is moved to the B contact, both red and green will light? When the slider switch is moved to the A contact, only the red light will be on.
Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how?
Does the signal use bulbs or LED's?
If it's LED's you can re-wire the existing switch and add a diode.
If it's bulbs you can use a double pole double throw switch to do the job
Radio shack has a variety of them available and they cost 3 to 4 bucks
Springfield PA
richhotrain railwayop: Hi: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? THANKS! Robbie Robbie, many of us are probably not familiar with this particular signal. How is the signal normally lighted when the 3-way slider switch is up and when the 3-way switch is down. In other words, when are the red and green lights on and off? Rich
railwayop: Hi: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? THANKS! Robbie
Hi:
THANKS!
Robbie, many of us are probably not familiar with this particular signal. How is the signal normally lighted when the 3-way slider switch is up and when the 3-way switch is down. In other words, when are the red and green lights on and off?
I don't know why my reply didn't show???? So will try again:
The signal came with a 3-way slide switch - when the slider is up it shows red only and when down it shows only green with a center off for no light. (Lights out of the box for this absolute signal is red on top and green on bottom).
That isnt so bad in some ways because with railway rules the train can ooperate under the most restrictive signal when the green is lite but what I was hoping for was the red and green both lite/on for a SLOW TO CLEAR or DIVERGING TO CLEAR (will glue a DV on later if can get this work) and after the train leaves the yard and enters the main I'd throw the lights to red only then off after the last car.
I did try a DPDT and I got the red/green to work with the switch up but when I dropped it down I got nothing. Messed with different wire combos and still could never get that red/green then red by itself to work.
I checked the walthers Catalogue but am not familiar enough with the type of switches to know what might work and not.
Thanks for help and suggestions - hope above a bit clearer?
Say what?
The only way would be to use a different type of switch to control the bulbs, but finding such a switch could be a major challenge unless you have a catalog from a supplier such as Mouser Electronics and know exactly what type of switch you're looking for.
Even if you can do this, the Model Power signals are wired wrong -- real railroad signals have the green on top (highball) and the MP signals have red on top, which is like a traffic signal.
railwayop Hi: Is there a way to rewire the Model Power (#1684) 2 aspect signal so it shows red and green when the 3-way slider switch is down and only red (no green) when the switch is up? And if so, how? THANKS! Robbie