I am part of a local train club that sets up an operating layout for the public to enjoy. We have it set up in the local mall right now and although we can run 5 trains simultaneously, the highlight is our interactive accessories. We have numerous pushbuttons around the edge of the layout where children of all ages can push a button and activate an accessory. Most accessories only operate as long as you hold them in, i.e. a rotary beacon, a crossing gate, a coal loader etc. However with some accessories, e.g. the MTH gas station, pushing the button once initiates the action. Nothing further is required until the accessory cycle is completed. However sometimes if the button is pushed during the cycle, the "brains" of the accessory become scrambled and the accessory locks up. Cutting off the power to the accessory resets it and it will work properly until the next time. It is impossible to try to tell kids not to contilually push the button as that is what is required for most accessories. So what I am looking for is some sort of variable timer (relay?) that, once the button is pushed, will not allow electricity to flow to the accessory again until the timer has expired regardless of how often the button is pushed. I could time the accessory cycle so that the timer would time out after the cycle is completed. Can anyone offer a suggestion? On a related matter will periodically scrambling the brains cause any permanent damage? Thanks for your help.
Don
