Relay to start and stop train by pressing a button

Are you imagining a timer that shuts down the entire layout (i.e. the ZW itself)...or a timer that starts/stops just the train (i.e. track power).  That is, in the latter case the ZW accessory voltage might be powering buildings, lights, and animated accessories common to Christmas layouts that you'd want running all the time.

Just a button timer that goes full on then full off will make for some slam-bam starts and stops. There are several compnies that offer a timer that gradually starts and stops the train. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand name of the one I use, but it has worked well for over 12 years and was well worth the investment.

@tripleo posted:

Just a button timer that goes full on then full off will make for some slam-bam starts and stops. There are several compnies that offer a timer that gradually starts and stops the train. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand name of the one I use, but it has worked well for over 12 years and was well worth the investment.

Do you at least have a photo? Is it adjustable in terms of how long it runs?

@stan2004 posted:

Are you imagining a timer that shuts down the entire layout (i.e. the ZW itself)...or a timer that starts/stops just the train (i.e. track power).  That is, in the latter case the ZW accessory voltage might be powering buildings, lights, and animated accessories common to Christmas layouts that you'd want running all the time.

Yes I want the timer to shut down the entire layout. I don't want any power going to the ZW, only when you press the button.

Still can't remember the brand (I will eventually, I suppose). I have a simple wall timer that you can buy anywhere that the transformer is plugged into. It goes on at 7 AM and off at 6PM. The button for the train timer is wired between the transformer and the track. It does have some variation in the times, but I have it set for 5 minutes.

Just remembered: dalee electronics. Give them a search.

you could have a sensor that turns on the layout when someone approaches the layout and runs until they leave.

I have sensor lights that light when I pass by.

I think this is the Dallee unit that 'tripleo' is referencing.

Dallee's web page says it's adjustable from 20 seconds to 3.5 minutes, and can switch up to 5 amps.

Note also, Dallee says there is an optional " MO1 momentum board" you can use with it, for gradual starts and stops.

dallee.com/Timer-3-Display-Timer-Push-Button-operation-507

Don't forget the simple method of just connecting a push button to a "Stop Block" -- see below sketch.

When someone pushes the push button, the stationary train will start up and move from the Stop Block to the always-powered mainline.

The train will make a loop, then stop on the Stop Block, and wait until the button is pushed again.

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As long as the train requires, say 30 seconds or more to make a complete loop, this works reasonably ok.
However, if your loop is only a few feet around (very small loop), then this method does not work so well (because train only runs a few seconds and then stops again).

If you use search terms similar to "push button timer" or "push button-actuated timer-relay" or "push button-actuated timer-relay for model trains" or "Timers for Model Railroad Applications", and search this O Gauge Forum, Google, Google Images, Amazon, and eBay -- you get a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff.

Some of these have "count-down displays" -- which seems nice to have.

The problem is the descriptions are too technical, and I'm NOT SMART ENOUGH with electronics to understand whether they would work with model trains or not.

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Circuitron appears to have a timer also, but the time delay is adjustable only from 0 seconds to 1 minute -- see 1st image below.
circuitron.com/index_files/cat/302CAT.pdf  (Go to page 31 of the catalog.)
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For example, a company named Elecbee has such a device that at first glance, APPEARS like it would work -- see 2nd image below.
elecbee.com/en-28728-External-Trigger-Delay-Switch-Touch-Button-Relay-Signal-Timer-Module-Board

Time delay appears to be adjustable from 0.01 seconds to 999 minutes. Max current 5 amps.

Please note, I know NOTHING about this company; it just came up in a Google search.

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Dave Bodnar's website has a page titled "Timers for Model Railroad Applications" at   trainelectronics.com/AnimationTimer/article_Part_I.htm   -- see 3rd image below.

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There's also a discussion on this topic "Good time delay push button switch" on cs.trains.com at   cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/268200.aspx

circuitron.com/index_files/cat/302CAT.pdf

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elecbee.com/en-28728-External-Trigger-Delay-Switch-Touch-Button-Relay-Signal-Timer-Module-Board

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trainelectronics.com/AnimationTimer/article_Part_I.htm

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cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/268200.aspx

@gene maag posted:

Yes I want the timer to shut down the entire layout. I don't want any power going to the ZW, only when you press the button.

Understood.

In which case try searching using phrases such as "countdown timer outlet" or "auto shutoff outlet" or "safety timer outlet" etc.  For example:

Above timer plugs into wall.  And by pressing a button it will apply outlet power for some fixed amount of time.  Obviously the packaging is inconvenient for what you want.  Presumably the ZW will be near the back of the layout near a wall outlet whereas you'd presumably want the pushbutton activation near the front of the layout, at waist-level, mounted on a panel with a large-font label saying "Push Me" or whatever, etc.  So perhaps you'd have to open the outlet module and run a 2-wire extension cable to a distant pushbutton.

Yes, I can see it might be troubling to muck around inside the wall-powered module and one should logically wonder if the extension wires are carrying dangerous voltage or what have you.

So.  There are wireless versions of these widgets.  For example:

Here the timer selection buttons are on a handheld, battery-powered (i.e., low voltage) remote.  Again I'd think you'd want to add your own external pushbutton switch corresponding to the desired timer delay for ease of use.  And of course you have to make sure you have a spare battery though my experience with these gadgets is they will operate for years of "normal" use without requiring battery exchange.

And I realize that the examples shown have a minimum delay of 15 min and 30 min which are obviously longer than the 5 or 10 minutes you mentioned.  There are buckets of these modules out there and perhaps you can find one that has a 5 minute or 10 minute button.  I only spent a few minutes looking but here's one that has both 5 and 10 minutes:

Unfortunately while it has both 5 and 10 minute options, you access those delays by pressing the single pushbutton in some pattern which is surely not what you want.  The point is at least one manufacturer saw the application for 5 and 10 minute shutoff so there's hope!  By reading the descriptions of what these are used for you might be able to narrow the search to something more focused than Amazon which is all over the place.  That is, shorter shutoff times might be more applicable to electrical appliances used in cooking, personal hygiene, gardening, whatever.

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Finally, if all else fails or leads to dead-ends, you could cobble together a pushbutton activated auto-shutoff relay to supply wall-outlet voltage.  You could use, for example, the elecbee timer module James suggested above.  I've used that exact timer module in many applications.  You can set the time delay to exactly 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or whatever.  You would be messing with 120V line voltage wiring (though not while "live") so perhaps not everyone's cup-of-tea.  If this is of interest I can elaborate on how I'd approach your application from a DIY perspective; that is, I'd try to do it with zero out-of-pocket but I have timer modules and a stash of electrical components.  Otherwise I'd guess less than $20 out-of-pocket for a mythical "average" train guy with the usual assortment of wires, tools, etc. available.

@stan2004 posted:

Understood.

In which case try searching using phrases such as "countdown timer outlet" or "auto shutoff outlet" or "safety timer outlet" etc.  For example:

Above timer plugs into wall.  And by pressing a button it will apply outlet power for some fixed amount of time.  Obviously the packaging is inconvenient for what you want.  Presumably the ZW will be near the back of the layout near a wall outlet whereas you'd presumably want the pushbutton activation near the front of the layout, at waist-level, mounted on a panel with a large-font label saying "Push Me" or whatever, etc.  So perhaps you'd have to open the outlet module and run a 2-wire extension cable to a distant pushbutton.

Yes, I can see it might be troubling to muck around inside the wall-powered module and one should logically wonder if the extension wires are carrying dangerous voltage or what have you.

So.  There are wireless versions of these widgets.  For example:

Here the timer selection buttons are on a handheld, battery-powered (i.e., low voltage) remote.  Again I'd think you'd want to add your own external pushbutton switch corresponding to the desired timer delay for ease of use.  And of course you have to make sure you have a spare battery though my experience with these gadgets is they will operate for years of "normal" use without requiring battery exchange.

And I realize that the examples shown have a minimum delay of 15 min and 30 min which are obviously longer than the 5 or 10 minutes you mentioned.  There are buckets of these modules out there and perhaps you can find one that has a 5 minute or 10 minute button.  I only spent a few minutes looking but here's one that has both 5 and 10 minutes:

Unfortunately while it has both 5 and 10 minute options, you access those delays by pressing the single pushbutton in some pattern which is surely not what you want.  The point is at least one manufacturer saw the application for 5 and 10 minute shutoff so there's hope!  By reading the descriptions of what these are used for you might be able to narrow the search to something more focused than Amazon which is all over the place.  That is, shorter shutoff times might be more applicable to electrical appliances used in cooking, personal hygiene, gardening, whatever.

---

Finally, if all else fails or leads to dead-ends, you could cobble together a pushbutton activated auto-shutoff relay to supply wall-outlet voltage.  You could use, for example, the elecbee timer module James suggested above.  I've used that exact timer module in many applications.  You can set the time delay to exactly 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or whatever.  You would be messing with 120V line voltage wiring (though not while "live") so perhaps not everyone's cup-of-tea.  If this is of interest I can elaborate on how I'd approach your application from a DIY perspective; that is, I'd try to do it with zero out-of-pocket but I have timer modules and a stash of electrical components.  Otherwise I'd guess less than $20 out-of-pocket for a mythical "average" train guy with the usual assortment of wires, tools, etc. available.

Thanks this looks like it will work for us.