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Turnout direction indicators
Turnout direction indicators
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mikesmowers
Member since
January 2006
From: Manitou, Okla
1,630 posts
Turnout direction indicators
Posted by
mikesmowers
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 8:58 AM
Good morning. I was wondering if there is a way to tell which way the turnout is pointing whthout looking close at the turnout? I am running HO scale with Atlas turnouts and some undertable (whever I can) Atlis switch machines, the ones that I cannot put under the table are also Atlas. Is there a way to have the train come back through the turnout without switching the turnout or having the train derail?
Thanks, Mike
Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 9:15 AM
If you were running ground throws, Caboose Industries might could help. They may still have something available, I don't know. Try um and see.
http://www.cabooseind.com/
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fwright
Member since
November 2002
From: Colorado
4,075 posts
Posted by
fwright
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 9:30 AM
The Atlas Snap Relays will power indicator lights, power frogs, etc. They do not have to be installed at the turnout site, but should be wired in parallel with the desired switch machine. The relays come with wiring instructions for various uses.
Hope this helps.
Fred W
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MisterBeasley
Member since
December 2004
From: Bedford, MA, USA
21,481 posts
Posted by
MisterBeasley
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 11:36 AM
I think Atlas also makes a "deluxe" under-table machine which includes relay contacts for driving indicator lights. You could use any other appropriate relay as well.
To address the "automatic" throwing of the turnout on the reverse loop, you would need some sort of detection circuit which could send a signal to the turnout. If this is a reverse loop, though, you would also need to deal with the polarity flipping issue. In DC, you need to flip the polarity of the main while the train is in the loop. In DCC, the best thing to do is get a reverser circuit and forget about the problem after that.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
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scubaterry
Member since
December 2004
From: Gainesville area
1,396 posts
Posted by
scubaterry
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 11:48 AM
I don't know how much trouble you want to go to but here is what I did. The first couple of pics are an old LL non operating signal bridge. I put red/green LEDs in it and have it wired to my Peco T/O switch. It tells me position of the crossover T/Os at a glance. Green = Closed and Red = thrown.
The other pics are cheap Dwarf lights and do the same thing. Mainly for sidings and yard use. I would be happy to provide any details if you are interested. cost of the dwarfs come out to less than a buck each.
Terry[8D]
Terry Eatin FH&R in Sunny Florida
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 11:52 AM
Mike - I do not know about the Atlas switch machines but I believe that the tortoise slow mo machine with a Hare II decoder can automatically detect the polarity of an oncoming train and throw the points on the turnout automatically. The Hare II also has outputs to attach lights on a control board or fascia to show the direction of the turnout.
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