Flashing LED on occupied spur track

If you want to sense over the entire 5 feet, you'll probably have to have an insulated rail over that distance for the sensing to work.  If you want red/green for occupied/empty, then you need a relay to switch the power between the two LED's.

 This is one such relay product: Insulated Track Signal Driver, Rev. 2

gunrunnerjohn, what material do you recommend using to insulate the sections?

What kind of track are you using?  Most track types have insulated rail sections.

I am using Lionel tubular track.

Here's what you need for the insulated rail.  Lionel O 6-12840 Insulated O Gauge Tubular Track. 

If I decide to insulate my current track, what material do you recommend using as the insulator?

Well, Lionel used fish paper for the center rail, you can pry a rail out and insulate it with some of this stuff.

Fish Paper Insulator at Digikey

Thanks!  You have been a GREAT Help!!

Another option you may want to consider is switching the siding over to gargraves track, since you will be tearing it up anyway. Gargraves uses wooden ties so the outsides rails are already insulated. Way easier IMO. 

Rod

I haven't thought of gargraves, I have always used Lionel tubular.  Does gargraves make a transition to tubular piece?

No. They make mating pins. 

Gargraves uses thinner pins, but they sell transition pins which makes joining easy. Gargraves is lower profile than 031 O gauge, so there is a height difference. But I have found 3/16" thick cork roadbed is perfect, and looks good too.

Rod

@R Whitley posted:

I am trying to figure out how to wire a LED on a spur track that is hard to see due to some buildings blocking the view.  I want the LED light to flash when the track is occupied and off when the track is empty automatically. Another option is to use a solid green when the track is empty and a flashing red light when the track has cars on it.   The spur is approximately 5 feet long with a lighted bumper on the end. I am using Command Control with Lionel tubular track. The flashing LED light that I will be using is pre-built from Evans. I was hoping that I would not have to insulate the entire 5 foot section. Will a relay work?

Any help would be much appreciated.

How can the LED scenario work with gargraves since all rails are independent?

Exactly the same as it would have with tubular track and an insulated rail.

One outside rail is grounded, the other is insulated. So when a set of wheels straddles the two rails the insulated rail will be connected to ground and close a set of relay contacts (red) whilst opening a set of contacts (green). Like you want, right?

Rod

That's correct Rod.

NEXT QUESTIONS: If I go with gargraves on that spur instead of tubular insulated sections would I solder the connections leading to the LED'S from the center rail and one from the outer rails? I have no knowledge of gargraves and have never seen a section.

This method would definitely be cheaper than stringing 10 tubular insulated sections together.

Cheaper yes, plus way easier. Think of prying up 3 sets of tie crimps per 10" section, then inserting the insulating paper, then re-crimping. You could power your leds from the center rail, with the return to the insulated outer rail. Then when wheel sets ground the insulated rail, the leds light. Easy peasy.

Rod

Rod, that sounds much easier!

What's the best way to attach the drops from the center and insulated outer rail on gargraves?

I just solder them to the bottom of the track, then you can drop them through and they aren't visible on the top of the layout.