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"Signal Question"

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Thursday, March 13, 2014 9:53 PM

Signals can be mounted on the oposite side of the track if there is no sufficient clearance in the proper location. If the signal bulbs are LED's they can be wired two ways, common cathode or common anode. Common cathode has the DC+ to the resistor- LED. The DC- goes to the lead without the resistor. With common anode the DC- goes to the resistor-LED and the DC+ goes to the wire without the resistor. Sometimes if the LED's all need the same value resistor, One resistor will go in the common wire from the three LED's

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, March 13, 2014 9:18 PM

Well, Mr. Obvious has to ask .... HOW did you hook them up to your Tortoise machine ? Are they LEDs or bulbs ?

My second concern is the installation. Signals are always mounted offset to the right of the track so the engineer can see them. Making matters worse is the fact the signals are on a left-hand curve, there's no way the engineer would ever be able to see that left signal. If that left track is a passing track, a more appropriate installation would be a dwarf signal mounted between the two tracks to govern the siding.

That being said - it's YOUR railroad ....

Mark. 

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
"Signal Question"
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 9:01 PM

HI ALL,

   After having a busy time at work, I was able to find some time (LOL) to work with my signals, as you can see they are 3 aspect signals, the one on the right will be governing the mainline, while the one on the left will govern the diverging. Im  still having trouble,all I want is to have the signals govern the right tracks, I can't even get them to lite up, I've hooked them up to my Tortise, but they are dark I know I have aske before, but could someone please help. Im very frustrated, I was told that I would need a SD 1 Block detector, and since I have two signals I would need two of them!!  I feel like I'am getting over my head, should I just keep it simple and use one signal,??I thought I Would go directly from my Tortise to TWO signals,  if that is possible, Thanks for letting my vent, inhale--- exhale,,,Bang Head 

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