Gerber files for Stan 2004's Track Spike Detector

OK by me.

OK Stan, thanks!

So here is a snip of the simple circuit, and a 3D view of the board for reference.

Gerber files attached below. The BOM is pretty simple, you can take it off the schematic easily. If any help needed just let me know. The only somewhat unusual components are the two 1N5257B 33V Zener diodes, but there are sources on ebay, and Digikey has them in stock I recall.

This board can easily be mounted on a spare two axle truck as Stan had done, or it can be installed in the roof of a suitable "MOW" type car with only the LED's showing above. One car that it looks like it should work well on is an MTH Jordan Spreader, which has a nice flat cab roof behind the cuplola. But there are lots of other good choices out there I am sure. Instead of the 2 pin Dupont header shown, you can simply hard wire it in of course. 

Rod

Hmm Rod.  Images don't show up, and there are no attached files!

Can't understand that John. I only got interrupted about six times during the course of doing the post, 

Re-attached above, hope that works,

Rod

I see them now.

Good to know John. 

"I can see clearly now...…"

Rod

Nice work! I'm looking forward to adding one of these to my copy of GRJ's voltage boxcar.  I have some newer Lionel trucks, but I'm lacking the pick up rollers or I'd also make one of those too, as a backup unit.  Looking forward to trying this out, looks pretty neat from Stan's video.  

Well I got around to building one of these, picture below. I have not been able to get the red leds to flicker yet, but I am using a Z-1000 brick for testing, and I am thinking it may have a built in TVS, thus limiting spikes. I'll have to see if I can scare up a conventional transformer, like a 1033 or similar, and see how that fares.

Note I used 5 mm leds, only because I have lots lying around. But you could just as easily use 3 mm ones. This build is for portable use so I connected wires with small alligator clips. The plan is to build another one for permanent mounting in a suitable rail car, as discussed in the opening post.

Thank you Stan for sharing the original circuit with us! 

Rod

Ron or Stan, Is the PCB available?  I can bread board it but the PCB would be better,  I'd like to build up two of these for a large layout Thank's

kgsouth posted:

Ron or Stan, Is the PCB available?  I can bread board it but the PCB would be better,  I'd like to build up two of these for a large layout Thank's

Did you look at this post?  You can send the Gerber files to OSHPark and get a PCB board pretty cheap.

https://ogrforum.com/...9#115459344510394969

kgsouth posted:

Ron or Stan, Is the PCB available?  I can bread board it but the PCB would be better,  I'd like to build up two of these for a large layout Thank's

Hi, I dont have any spare boards for sale, but they can be ordered from OSH Park as grj said, using the gerber files I posted earlier in this topic. Does that work? If you are not comfortable with that I could maybe order a batch of 3 (the minimum OSH Park order quantity) on your behalf, for delivery to your address.

Rod

Thanks, I'll order from OSH Park.

KGSOUTH; I got a price from OSH Park of $7.05 for 3 boards, free shipping, about 5 days after fabrication. Add $6.70 to improve delivery to 3 days after fabrication. I sent you an email earlier.

Cheers,

Rod

FWIW, OSH Park has been shipping much faster lately, I just use their free shipping. 

I ordered boards on Jan 2nd, and I received them a couple days ago.  That's been about the norm for the last few months.

Thanks grj, I just ordered a couple of sets of boards from them, one set for KGSOUTH. So we will see how it goes.