Relay

Charles, this is good information.  I believe you are allowed under the Terms of Service >OGR TOS Link here< to post names of model train related manufacturing companies and their detailed product information.  The main thing to avoid is some types of weblinks, especially eBay links.

Will you please consider sharing this information publicly in this topic?

You just can't put links in for sellers, you can tell us the brand and part number.  A picture is fairly useless unless you can read all the data on the part.

FWIW, I buy this 10A relay with a lower current coil for around 40 cents each in quantity ten from Aliexpress, shipped free if you buy more than $10 total.  I've had excellent luck with the Songle relays over the years, I can only think of one failure in the hundreds I've used.

Jameco electronics

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You just can't put links in for sellers, you can tell us the brand and part number.  A picture is fairly useless unless you can read all the data on the part.

FWIW, I buy this 10A relay with a lower current coil for around 40 cents each in quantity ten from Aliexpress, shipped free if you buy more than $10 total.  I've had excellent luck with the Songle relays over the years, I can only think of one failure in the hundreds I've used.

I made sure the part# was legible in the picture. I did a search using just the part# before posting and the site came right up, all of the pertinent info is there.

I thought the first digit was 0, so I didn't get the relay on the search.

In any case, the relay I posted is way cheaper, half the size, and the 10A capability is enough for any model train application.  Free shipping if you buy $10 in product.

The Songle relay is 0.6" x 0.75" and 0.6" high.  The Jameco relay is 1.9" x 1.07" and 1.09" high.  If you're fitting these into locomotives, size is an important factor.  Also, the coil current of 37.5ma vs 77ma is a significant factor in many cases as well.

Thanks, I do notice that the relay I posted and installed in the switcher works well but does require a couple of more volts to function as opposed to the old whistle relays I've used in the past. I think I'll order the ones you mentioned for that price!

For a simple whistle relay, you can probably find even smaller relays, you don't need that much current capability.  Of course, if that one you listed fits, then I don't think you'll have problems fitting the Songle relay.

I've been checking out the Songle relays and have a question, when installing in PW switchers to operate the couplers should I use a 12 volt relay or maybe drop down to a 9 volt since the 12 volt I installed seems to take more voltage than the old whistle relays? Thanks

Am I understanding this correctly. You can replace the postwar whistle relay with one of these relays, connect a coil coupler and the coupler would actuate with the horn button.

I've done this on several lionel postwar diesel switchers without whistles or horns. You need to add a dc relay that must be insulated from the frame and connected to the coil couplers. I'm probably not the best at explaining it but if you do a search for lionels teledyne coupler system you can find all the details and possibly videos. I really like these newer plastic housing relays as they're already insulated and some have flanges to mount them. Hope that helps!

@charles mcdaniel posted:

I've been checking out the Songle relays and have a question, when installing in PW switchers to operate the couplers should I use a 12 volt relay or maybe drop down to a 9 volt since the 12 volt I installed seems to take more voltage than the old whistle relays? Thanks

How exactly are you using this relay?  Are you connecting it directly across track power?  I'm surprised that works.  The old whistle relays were a special copper shielded core to sense only the DC offset on the tracks.

@Pup posted:

Am I understanding this correctly. You can replace the postwar whistle relay with one of these relays, connect a coil coupler and the coupler would actuate with the horn button.

I don't think it's that simple.  That doesn't work for me.

Yes, directly to the track.

If you put that PN into that place named after a South America river,  it  has a 12 pack for $9 and free shipping if you are a prime.  They also have a 10 pack of this with the same PN and the SONGLE brand name 10 and free shipping.  Most part houses have shipping charges that can make a good deal cost a bit more.  My other interest requires the use of parts houses, but I wait until I get an order large enough that makes their shipping fee more palatable.

Yep, but if you wait the couple weeks for overseas shipping, you get 30 of them for around $12.   Yes, it is with free shipping if the order is over $10.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Yep, but if you wait the couple weeks for overseas shipping, you get 30 of them for around $12.   Yes, it is with free shipping if the order is over $10.

Just had to reply to GRJ's post, I thought the relay I mentioned earlier in this post would be a viable alternative to the old whistle relays to operate coil couplers, although it did work but required way too much voltage to operate. I attended the Lancaster tca show on saturday and was able to pick up four Lionel whistle relays and installed one in the switcher, works much better, I can now operate the couplers at a very low voltage. Thanks to GRJ!

I make a board for coupler coils, whistles and horns using a similar relay. You need some additional circuitry to detect the positive DC from the whistle button (or negative DC from the bell button). Basically an RC filter and NPN darlington transistor (or PNP for bell). Half wave rectify the track AC and use the transistor to switch on the relay.