custom dwarf signals how to hook up?

Hi Chris, they look cool. What I would do is study how the railroads do it in your area. From what I understand every line is a little different.

On my platform the green is on top. Not because that is necessarily the proper way the colors should be stacked, but green is go and "high-ball" is go therefore green must be high, or on top.

It's my railroad so I make the rules.

Have fun.

That's a true 3-aspect (Green/Red/Yellow) or 4-aspect (Off/Green/Red/Yellow) signal. To light them for three-aspect, it's a little tricky, but not overly complicated.

For 3-aspect operation:

You will need to set up TWO insulated blocks -- Block 1 and Block 2. Block 1 is guarded by the signal. Block 2 is the block after.

You need two SPDT Relays and a 12-volt DC source (that's why there's the resistor.) The normally closed of Relay 1 goes to Green; the normally open goes to Yellow; the common goes to the normally closed of Relay 2. The normally open of Relay 2 goes to red; the common goes to +12 volts. The black wire on the signal goes to common.

Relay 1's (Green/Yellow) coil is triggered via insulated rail on Block 2. Relay 2's (Red on/off) coil is triggered by the insulated rail on Block 1 guarded by the signal.

When the train passes the signal, it will change from Green to Red. When the train goes into the next block, the signal will change from Red to Yellow when the last car clears the first block. When the train clears the second block, the signal will return to Green.

For 4-aspect (off before Green) operation:

You will need FOUR insulated blocks -- Block 0, Block 1, Block 2, and Block 3. Blocks 1 and 2 are as above. Block 0 and Block 3 are used to turn on the Green light.

You need one additional relay (for our purposes we'll call it Relay 0) added to the above configuration The normally open contact for Relay 0 goes to Green. The Common connects to the Normally Closed contact on Relay 1. The coil for Relay 0 is triggered by insulated rails on Block 0 and Block 3.

When the train approaches the signal, the Green light will light. As the train passes the signal, the cycle will operate as above. When the train clears the last block, the signal will go dark.

Prototypically, signal operation has changed as on some roads the signal goes from Red to Off after the block clears. It will turn green on approach. Another interesting little item is that the signals are designed to go Red if there's a failure. You can duplicate that in a model context, but it's more complicated.

Hope this helps.

Check out the Custom Signals website. They sell PCB boards (BCS Series) that will control your dwarf signals. Al lyou will have to do is create blocks and they have literature on how to do this.

Happy Railroading,

thanks matt and stewart, wow, looks like I will have some figuring out to do!  happy thanksgiving

chris

Sorry Chris, I totaly misunderstood your question.

For a proper answer see the above two who know how to read.

gunrunner posted on the other forum about the board on Ebay from Wehonest in china.  I think that is where the signals came from.  Ill have to see how I can mess around with the isolator 5" track for the trip.   

Can I run the power to the center and the black common to the outside rail for it to light up.  isolate that outer rail and then the wheels hit the piece and they should come on? 

chris

Don't do that. They're designed to operate on 12V DC. Your track voltage will generate a flickering effect plus the signals will give mixed indications as the train moves between blocks. Relays and insulated rail will give the best results. I'll clean up a schematic and post it.

I have a few of the single heads and a few double-heads from Wehonest on eBay. They look good for what they are At $4 or so each for the single-head and $6.20 or so for the two-head, they're a bargain and can be cleaned up with a little paint.

thats where I got them from last year.  forgot where I got them from.  They are pretty nice.  I figured for now, im going to just light them up for my living room layout.  i might do something my little one can play with.  use some toggles to turn the green one on and the red one and yellow one like a control board.  so she can flip the switches to turn them on.  I can get into the track activation later.  I just ordered an MTH infared unit for the crossing signals I just got. 

thanks matt. 

Chris