Lionel 153R

@cpasam posted:

After a train enters a certain spur, I’d like the 022 switch it just passed to change position so the next train won’t plow into the train parked in the spur.

I know I can use an insulated rail to make this happen, but I don’t want to disassemble tracks.

Can I accomplish this with the 153R, or is there a better way?

I was toying with this in my head, but the problem is, the "state" detection is a little more complicated.

#1 you don't want the switch to change while the train is driving in- meaning we cannot detect just after the switch as depending on if the train is short or long.

#2 You could sense far down on the spur closer to the end- but then it requires you always pull the engine all the way down to the sensing location

#3 You are ideally sensing the presence of the train, not just it passing as a constant state.

#4 catch 22, if this is a single ended siding, you need the IR sensor not to detect the train when exiting the siding as this would throw or maintain the switch in the wrong state.

#5 Most switches work such that the anti-derailing sensing function, and the remote control- is an "OR" state, one or the other can control, but never ever should we have them fighting state. In other words, if the IR is triggering for through, and anti-derailing senses "out" then we have a conflict.

Again, I think the 153IR or insulated rail sensing, either one in theory should work.

This should work with many switches- however caution- don't use with a dual coil switch motor (example Atlas or certain Lionel switches) that do not have contacts that detect state and disconnect coil once switched. The reason is, we are detecting a state- train present and likely parked for some time. The 153IR would be triggered as long as the train is there, thus again, on specific switch motors that use dual coils, there is risk of sitting there cooking a coil constantly energized.

Also, if the switch supports anti-derailing sensing, again, there is a strict length limit and a train cannot both activate the IR sensor or insulated rail and activate the anti-derailing sensing section (normally in that leg of the switch) at the same time.

If you did go with insulated rail sensing- again it has to be near the end of the siding and you have to park the cars or train all the way down to trigger the "automatic" function to turn the switch to "through" so your mainline following train doesn't jump into the siding.

This is not a single ended siding. Also, the spur will only be home to a 2 Budd car commuter train, always exiting at the same end.

@cpasam posted:

This is not a single ended siding. Also, the spur will only be home to a 2 Budd car commuter train, always exiting at the same end.

OK, then it still matters, the 2 Budd cars must be well out of the switch anti-derailing  when it triggers the IR telling the switch to change to straight.

Also this implies your exit switch has anti-derailing sensing.

Thanks.

However, I am unclear on the following: 1. Will the 153R change the 022 switch, the same way an insulated rail connection would do? 2. Would a parked train positioned next to the 153R continually engage the 153R and burn out the 022?

@cpasam posted:

Thanks.

However, I am unclear on the following: 1. Will the 153R change the 022 switch, the same way an insulated rail connection would do?  YES, it's a relay output. The accessory GND is the common pole of the relay NC and NO contacts. You would only use the NO Normally open contact and ACC GND in this application. The NO contact would wire to the O22 switch through terminal. The center post contact of the 022 is "common" thus goes to the ACC GND (mostly redundant and possibly not necessary).

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...3IR%20controller.pdf

2. Would a parked train positioned next to the 153R continually engage the 153R and burn out the 022? No, because the O22 switch internally has contacts that disconnect the coil once the switch moves to position.

https://ogrforum.com/...7#173315960853482837

Again, in a nutshell.

You connect the 153 IR to your track using the lockon built in.

Set the power switch in the 153IR to track power

Connect the NO terminal of the 153IR to the "through" switch contact of the 022 switch (I believe that to be the B terminal- as drawn but changes to A if switch motor is on the other side of the switch).

Thank you for this very thorough explanation.

I had a similar situation where there was a switch before the throat of a reversing curve where a train would enter the reversing curve from the straight side of the switch, but I wanted the train to take the divergent side of the switch on the way back after it came out of the reversing curve and needed to find a way for the switch to automatically change to the divergent position a certain number of seconds after the train initially passed over it heading into the reversing curve.     

I accomplished this with the use of an Azatrax IR sensor and relay. The timer on the device was adjustable which made it perfect for my use, especially if it was a long train that was passing over the switch and I needed a longer delay before the switch could change position. This was for a Fastrack switch, but you may be able to wire it for an O-22, as well.

Here is the thread and see the final movie ....  Review of New "After Departure" Relay from Azatrax | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)