For the 154 crossing signal, you can use the Dallee #367 Grade Crossing Flasher

For the timer, the Dallee #506 Timer may work

P.S.- I have read the very thorough set of posts back in 2016, where Stan, John, and others joined in to explain how to design an alternating flasher system for a 154 Signal.    Yet, that is way over the top for me.   (And, I'm not sure why it was necessary for the components to convert AC power to DC power.)

I'm just looking for an in-line circuit flasher that will work.  :-)

Thanks

@Mannyrock, I pointed you to prebuilt ready to run circuitry that works with AC

@Mannyrock posted:

I'm just looking for an in-line circuit flasher that will work.  :-)

Look higher in the thread, already provided.

@bmoran4 posted:

For the 154 crossing signal, you can use the Dallee #367 Grade Crossing Flasher

For the timer, the Dallee #506 Timer may work

Both of the boards operate on AC power.

Mannyrock: I think I would want to use some programmable timer relays. They should be able to handle both the flashing lights and the random timing for accessories.

These from Amazon take 5 volts to power the relays. Your AC would go through the Common and NO/NC connections. You would want to use program mode 4.

Guys,

Thanks for all of the great info.  I will have to digest it.

Moran, my P.S. post was not meant to be a reply to your suggestion.   I was typing it shortly after my initial post, as follow-up clarification, and before I could press send, I guess your rapid reply hit the board, so without me having read yours, my P.S. followed.   My apologies if this created the impression that it was a rejection or critique or your suggestion.

Leo, the timing module you posted takes 5 V to operate, but what is the max voltage it can handle?  Can it handle a 16 V AC output from the transformer?

Thanks very much,

Mannyrock

@Consolidated Leo posted:

Mannyrock: I think I would want to use some programmable timer relays. They should be able to handle both the flashing lights and the random timing for accessories.

These from Amazon take 5 volts to power the relays. Your AC would go through the Common and NO/NC connections. You would want to use program mode 4.

Those require a DC buss which, despite how simple it may be to some, has been requested to be avoided. Additionally, they can't be used readily with track activation as requested for the flashing scenario.

Now to be absolutely clear, I'm not saying these can't be made to work, but when compared with the specific purpose nature of installing the Dallee components, it seems like a no brainer.

Mannyrock: Yes. The relays (as can be seen in the picture) are rated up to 10 amps at 120 volts AC, 30 volts DC, etc. I haven't tried these but have seen them mentioned elsewhere. Apparently, some people have said that they had trouble setting them up in the proper program mode.

It is a bit confusing. P4 starts with the relay off until time T1 passes, then turns on until time T2 passes and then goes off again. This repeats over and over.

@Consolidated Leo posted:

Mannyrock: Yes. The relays (as can be seen in the picture) are rated up to 10 amps at 120 volts AC, 30 volts DC, etc.

That is the relay switching rating, not the relay trigger input coil rating, which is 5VDC.

@bmoran4 posted:

That is the relay switching rating, not the relay trigger input coil rating, which is 5VDC.

You are correct!

@bmoran4 posted:

That is the relay switching rating, not the relay trigger input coil rating, which is 5VDC.

@Consolidated Leo posted:

You are correct!

As such, @Mannyrock cannot directly use the stated isolated rail with 18VAC input....

@bmoran4 posted:

As such, @Mannyrock cannot directly use the stated isolated rail with 18VAC input....

Mannyrock’s  “Second” request in the original post does not mention anything related to an “isolated rail” requirement.  Just random activation of a few accessories.

@bmoran4 posted:

As such, @Mannyrock cannot directly use the stated isolated rail with 18VAC input....

Yes. That would require a bit more. But there should be no problem getting the relay timer to cycle on and off for the desired duration. And I don't see how any of the trigger modes could start and stop it. You could just run the 18VAC into an AC to DC buck converter to power up the relay timer which would then supply the required blinking action. But that's the long way around for a blinker. I would look for a different solution in that case.

@Mannyrock, I think I have a couple relays that may be what you want. They are from a former company called 3-Rail Innovations. Each module has 2 programmable relays. One has a programmable flashing mode, and the other will activate accessories at different time intervals. I have manuals and more info describing their use if you are interested. They are AC powered, and can be activated by isolated rail or switch. Feel free to ask for more information; I can scan specific mode instructions, such as flashing options.

@John H, that's a throwback of a decade or more for 3-Rail innovations! Those seem they could also meet @Mannyrock's request very well too!

I think he stopped doing business around 2012. I have a few on my layout; the options will make your head spin. Really innovative, in my opinion. He also had a train controller relay that was featured in an article in Run 248 of this here magazine.

Thanks for all of the great info!

To clarify the second request I posted, I will have several trackside AC accessories, such as the Atlas Oil Pump,  etc., that I want to operate automatically at different intervals, with the power coming straight from an independent 1033 Transformer supplying maximum AC throttle voltage.  (Not from an insulated rail or the track.)      I see now that I was mistaken by saying it would be 18 V input, as the transformer only has a max of 16 V input.      (I guess that if this is just too much for a relay circuit, I could use the 14 V constant voltage posts.)

John H, the first relay you show, the Two-Lighting Relay, sounds like the type of programmable timer relay that I am looking for.  But, will it be able to handle 14 or 16 V AC input and output?   The reason I ask is that its description is geared totally to operating lights and lighting accessories?

Thanks,

Mannyrock

I know that I'm wading in over my head here, but would something like this work as the flasher relay for the signal light?  I know it only says it handles up to 1 Amp AC, and that the track may have more amps than that running through it, but if the bulbs in the stop signal draw less than 1 Amp, would this matter?

The Dallee 367 is $10 cheaper and much more capable with 3 amps current carrying capability allowing it to drive multiple 154 signals as is typical with a given crossing.

@Mannyrock, These boards are powered by 12 to 14 VAC, not to exceed 14VAC. The relays are rated at 16 amps at 250 volts. They will certainly handle train accessories. The 2RC board has many flashing options, ranging from 37.5 to 300 flashes per minute. Each board has 2 relays. I was looking for $25 each, or $45 for both boards. They have lots of instructions and pictured examples and diagrams.

Thanks again for all of this info.  I will print it all out and review it thoroughly.

Mannyrock