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PRR Signal Disk Heads Only

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Posted by alloboard on Saturday, March 9, 2013 9:34 AM

     I'm trying to test them. They have the resistors. I have not soldered anything yet. all the wires have resistors except for the black wire. There are 13 lights on the two disk heads. There 8 colored wires. There are 2 yellow 2 green 1 black 1 blue 1 white and 1 red.

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, March 9, 2013 9:32 AM

Do you have a DC power pack that you can wire the signal up to in order to test it?

How do you plan to power the signal on the layout?

How many wires are on that signal and what colors are the wires?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by alloboard on Saturday, March 9, 2013 9:26 AM

I meant to send you the link to the HO scale one. I tried switching to opposite battery terminals. I think the 9V won't light it up.

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, March 9, 2013 5:47 AM

tstage

First off, do you realize that the link you've given is for an O-scale signal?  Secondly, since the LEDs didn't light up when you connected the wires to the battery, did you try switching the wires to their opposite battery terminals?  Remember: Diodes (which LEDs are) are unlike conventional light bulbs and current can only travel through them in one direction.  Also, since the LEDs are probably fitted with resistors for 13-14V (your track power), 9V won't even light them them up.

Tom

Here is the link for the HO scale signal, probably what the OP meant.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/nji/nji1149.htm

A 9 volt battery should be sufficient to light the LEDs.  As Tom says, reverse the wires on the battery terminals to align the LEDs properly.

If the LEDs aren't lighting, how are you testing them?  Are you holding the wires and resistors in your hands or have you soldered them?  Be careful not touch the wires to the battery terminals without the resistors because that will instantly burn out the LEDs.  I would want to be sure that the resistors are firmly attached to the wires before messing with the 9 volt battery.

Also, which wires have resistors added to them?  The common wire(s) should not have resistors attached.

Tell us more about what you are doing and how you are doing it.  How many wires are on that signal and what colors are the wires?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, March 9, 2013 3:15 AM

First off, do you realize that the link you've given is for an O-scale signal?  Secondly, since the LEDs didn't light up when you connected the wires to the battery, did you try switching the wires to their opposite battery terminals?  Remember: Diodes (which LEDs are) are unlike conventional light bulbs and current can only travel through them in one direction.  Also, since the LEDs are probably fitted with resistors for 13-14V (your track power), 9V won't even light them them up.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by alloboard on Saturday, March 9, 2013 2:01 AM

     I finally bought my first real signal in my 11 years of HO scale modeling, besides the test signal head on the Digitrax SE8C. I is an NJ International Amtrak Northeast Corridor color position signal found here http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/nji/nji1149.htm I tried testing the lights by putting the wires with resistors on a 9V battery and my Digitrax DCC track but none of the leads will light up. How should I correctly test the lights and eventually install this first signal I have purchased into my Digitrax SE8C.

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 7, 2013 4:27 PM

 NJ International has pre-wired PRR signals, but they are $40 for a single head.

Signalling isn't cheap, unless you're willing to do the bulk of the work yourself.

         --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by alloboard on Thursday, March 7, 2013 2:36 PM

I saw that earlier on but it was for N scale.

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, March 7, 2013 2:25 PM

Here's a circuit diagram from the Alkem Scale Models web site.  It's in N-scale but should be tweakable for HO.  You're still going to have to solder if you want it bullet-proof.

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by alloboard on Thursday, March 7, 2013 2:19 PM

    Yes like the one on top. I apologize. I forgot the other tread. I'm trying to keep up of all these other projects. I'll try better keeping up with my threads better this time. I can't believe it's been that long.

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, March 7, 2013 2:07 PM

Do you mean position signals, like the one on top?

You asked about this before back in 2011:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/200638.aspx

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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PRR Signal Disk Heads Only
Posted by alloboard on Thursday, March 7, 2013 1:41 PM

     Does anyone know a vendor that makes prewired  PRR amber disk heads in HO scale, so I can mount them at signal bridges? If not I will have to wire these myself.  I also need a circuit board that will connect my LEDs from my signal disks to my Digitrax SE8C signal system.

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