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So i bought a couple of signals they are pretty simple a red and green Led i have gotten as far as to wire and the leds to flash momentarily when the switch is thrown but they turn off when the button is not pushed. Is there a circuit out there that will allow my leds to stay on when the switch is thrown. The way i figure on how to make it work is a couple of latching relays and have them trigger when the coil is activated but i have lots of switches and if there is already a cirket out there that would make life easier ... any ideas on this... our switch machines are controlled by a AIU if that also helps.

 

Thanks

 

Robert     

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Turnout indication when using MTH RailKing RealTrax switches.

The attached photo shows a Dispatcher panel that indicates the position of every turnout on the layout.  The Dispatcher panel uses miniature LEDS. This system does NOT require latching relays since the RealTrax turnouts include a built in circuit which identifies the turnout position.  

These turnouts on my layout are activated four ways:

1. Using the AIU ( including WIFI when the DCS APP is available)

2. Using Momentary pushbuttons

3: Using RailKing turnout controls.

4: Wireless controller (NOT WIFI)

A photo of the pushbutton panel is also shown.

 

LED Dispatcher Panel:

DISPATCHER PANEL FRONT VIEW 1

 

Route Control Pusbutton Panel:

ROUTE CONTROL 002

 

Layout design using RealTrax turnouts (SCARM)

RAILKING REALTRAX LAYOUT WITH O-72 WYE AND DUAL O-72 CROSSOVERS

Attachments

Images (3)
  • ROUTE CONTROL 002
  • DISPATCHER PANEL FRONT VIEW 1
  • RAILKING REALTRAX LAYOUT WITH O-72 WYE AND DUAL O-72  CROSSOVERS
Last edited by pro hobby

That sounce like a good idea but the Mth switch machines that come with the track don't have any lights on them they look like this see attached photo if I where to put power to them all the time they will melt the coils now if I where to use atlas or z-stuff meachine st hen I can tap off the lighting out puts. There hast be a  Circuit that  Will do this I am researching the atlas website now for any clues 

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • image

I have to assume here that the problem is that the switch machines don't have any sort of output to indicate which way they are thrown, unlike many other switch machines.  So what one has to do is come up with some way to lock the LEDs on when a button is pressed, instead of just having it remain on when the button is held down.  

There are a couple of ways this can be done, and which one you choose will depend on what makes the most sense to you.  If you have many of these, the costs can add up on some of the simplest methods, where as other options may cost less but be harder to put together or require more parts.  

The simplest solution I can think of is to use a pair of relays:

This example is using the same power source for the relays as the LEDs, however with DPDT relays you can use a second power supply if you wanted for the lights. 

Other options include using flip-flop IC's or a micro-controller, both of which are less expensive and eliminate the relay clicking, but are more complex.  

JGL

 

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