[Basil]

Very gnick (geh-nick) (i.e very nice)

Any chance of a circuit diagram. I assume the lights (leds) on the front show that the track is live and you have wired the voltage from the track back to the control panel. This must mean the usual mess of wires coming back from the track at all the different locations.

............or have I got it very wrong ?

Looks very good.

Must get that layout built (i.e started) so I can build one of those.

I am also one of those happy persons who likes electronics. Proud to be a human nerd (in my own opinion). I suppose this is why I like 1:1 building and the 1:72 (or so)

Onwards

 

[Basil]

QUOTE (Expat @ 20 Jul 2008, 05:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sorry Basil, those are not LEDs, just contact studs to operate the point motors.

My electronics skills are, to say the least, limited. I am still trying to work out how to instell LEDs to show which way the points are set. Maybe YOU could let ME have a circuit diagram ???

Happy modelling,

Expat

Expat

A momentary switch (SPDT) of the ordinary push button type will operate the point as the solenoid only needs a momentary current to get it to move. When switched again it should return to the original. This uses the 16 v ac of the transformer to operate. The led will only light when there is momentary current through it. To stay lit it needs a constant current (but be careful most led's are only +/- 5v)

The led (if rated for 12 v dc) can be lit to show which track is live and therefore two leds are needed to show which track is live (the one lit up) and which is not (the one not lit up). It can all operate from a control panel much like you have made

Another MRF member is toying with the idea at

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...amp;#entry57797

and the above is a quote from the start of my rant

I will work on a basic schematic circuit diagram and will have a go at wire one up. It requires a connection to each leg of the track

 

[Basil]

http://radionics.rs-online.com/web/search/...t&R=2285613

The above is a link to the radionics website and they have a 12v resistor type led which if wired to each leg of the track will produce an indicator for the track being powered. The intensity of the light will depend on the voltage so if no voltage, no light. To indicate which track is live (without power) will require a more detailed circuit where 12 v needs to be drawn from the supply (only 10 mA).

I originally set up my points with an led on each leg and which momentarily lit to tell which leg was now live. The led then went out. It would need relays and a feed from the supply to get this working and would be a mess of wires (which we usually end up with). Of course for DCC this would not work because the power is always on (unless you guys, and gals, can work on a dcc way)

I will have a search to see if any of my electronics whizkid friends can come up with a cheap but workable circuit or will have a go myself. It would be very useful and ad a level of realism to the control panel.

Onwards

Basil

 

[Basil]

Imagine a bicycle light.

The track has a voltage difference between each track when live.

The led is connected across them.

You can actually hold an led across the track and get a light. The polarity must be right for a diode to emit light and thus there is a need for two diodes.

Here are the results of a few experiments. It is done using a 5V diode and will light with ac (on/off so many times it looks like continuously on) and dc if the polarity is right. With a lot of wiring (I must look into it) the leds could be a way to setting up the control panel with lights to indicate not only if the track is live but in which direction the current is running. This is one in the eye for dcc (sort of) and is part of the fun of trying to control (or at least know what's going on in) the analog layouts. It could give a realistic control panel.

Here goes. The photo below is the circuit where the 16 V ac is used to light the diode (momentarily while the point motor is changed). Pressing the momentary switch (actual term) the point motor switches and the diode lights. I haven't shown it but you need another switch and diode to do the other direction (i.e switch the point back)

off

on

Then if you do two diodes back to back (with both different polarities it will tell you when the track is

not live

in the forward direction

and the reverse direction

I wll draw up these circuits (Gawd give me time)

and post them here

and if I manage to get my blog going (Help administrators, I can't get my blog to open)

I'll try to develop the theme.

It might make a very useful control panel but would be a mess of wires

Maybe needs some thought

Onwards

 

[Basil]

QUOTE (Expat @ 22 Jul 2008, 07:44) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks zmil. Nice piece of kit but I was hoping to do something a little cheaper.

I would need 5 of those units to operate my 34 sets of points which would set me back A$850.

Cheers,

Expat.

Expat,

I am in the process of drawingup a circuit diagram which would use three diodes (one for each leg of the point and one for the frog) , two momentary switches and ordinary multistrand wire which would require an outlay of about 7 euro per point wired up (each switch is about 1 euro and the diodes are 1.50 euro each (1 ero = 0.77 sterling pounds and not suraout he exchang rate foraussie dollars ). These items are available at any electronics shop (such as radionics etc).

It would mean adding LEDs to your layout near the points or on your control panel.

Richards layout and diagram is along the lines but I would use the dc from the track (about 10 mA of it) and the 16 v ac for the points.

It is the kind of thing where you need to have a little knowledge (which is not always dangerous ;-)) and just get the wiring right (use a number of colours to define each one).
It would certainly be cheaper but would take some time and effort.

As I have young kids this may take a few days (or quiet evenings)

 

[Basil]

QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 22 Jul 2008, 13:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** Hi Basil

I am interested to see what you come up with:

Bear in mind the track power for those interested will be DCC not DC, so the normal diode based circuits that are applicable for some DC layout uses will not work unfortunately, and external power will always need to be used as diodes across track power will create problems with DCC operation.

Richard
DCCconcepts

Richard

Yes the set up will only work on a dc layout for a couple of reasons as if I understand DCC it is a 'power to all track at all times'. As you say the diode across the track may cause problems with dcc (probably because it is a constant load to the power supply or in DCC the controller/power supply ?? or maybe some logic issue (sort of like family life sometimes)). So this will be a DC only form of showing which track is powered and which is not.

One of the aspects I expect I might have to account for with some maths (which I will have to revisit various notebooks) is that each diode will take about 10 mA to power so this could be a drain on the power available to locos if too many are used. I will do some investigating asa there are low power LEDs (We dont want much light just on/off will do)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Basil]

Richard,

Absolutely it will need an independant power supply as the diodes will 'suck' the current out and will only be suitable for DC.

.......................And there are easier ways to do it, I'm sure, but I enjoy the tinkering.

As regards DCC, the diode will prevent the data signals as you say and DCC is not an area I know much about..

An interesting topic though.