Signals to identify track with power

Well, I have this little hobo shack that I'm getting ready to wire up for my TT indicators.

You might wonder how that would work, but knowing the roof is removable, it becomes obvious.

Each of the little squares is an LED indicator.  They'll get an overlay with the whisker track numbers before installation.

Of course, to complete the scene, we need some hobos to live in the shack.

I considered little indicators on each track, but they wouldn't all be visible from one location, so I went another way.

@BamaTrainman posted:

  My question is whether I need a signal light near the track that has power or a light to show this on my control panel.

On my control panel, I use tiny incandescent color lightbulbs to indicate the presence of track power throughout the layout. I run wires from the center rails at various points back to the bulbs on the control panel that have a common connection to the layout's COMMON. It's pretty simple, done without any electronics. The incandescent bulb brightness varies with track voltage so it is useful for both conventional and command use.  This capability is invaluable to ensure power is actually getting to the track and quickly identifies if a power brick is accidentally off, breaker might have popped, a loose wire exists, center-rail pin not making contact, or some malfunction is occurring at the track point.

I have lighted bumpers on all of my sidings. Usually at least one or two that just have cars on them, are left on, indicating track power.

A generic trackside signal would work out on the layout for each main line.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

I have lighted bumpers on all of my sidings.

Yes, same for me. I use the Lionel lighted bumpers on Gargraves trackage without any problem.

I have a circuit that uses a diode, filter cap, LM7805 three terminal regulator and an LED to detect power.  Since in conventional Lionel, the minimum voltage from their standard transformer is 6VAC, that's enough to indicate a hot track, and the regulator keeps the LED at 5VDC even when track volts is 20 VAC.  All these parts are available on Amazon at very low prices, the regulators came in a pack of 30 for $10 when I bought them, and you can get hundreds of all color LED's in a pack from them too.  Easier than dealing with online catalogs and order forms from places like Digikey or Mouser.  The circuit can be built dead bug style, just solder the appropriate component to where they need to go, check it for operation and then seal it in some silicon rubber.  Current draw is so low the regulator does not get hot enough to worry about, but you should leave that tab in the open air.  The tab access will allow you to screw it to the underside of your table and pass just the LED wires to whatever you have mounted the LED to at trackside.

I like what gunrunner is doing but I don’t understand how the system Bruce is using would indicate a track selection if the transformer is off.

Thanks

Gary

You have changed what you were asking for; instead of just wanting to visibly know when power was applied to a particular piece of track (NOTE: by definition, power has to be "on" for this to work), you now want to visibly know when a piece of track is somehow "selected."  The answer to that question will depend on the process used to "select" a piece of track (and ONLY that piece of track) to receive power.

Chuck

PRR1950, in my 4th sentence I said I am selecting a track but think there should be a physical indication and am seeking advice.

@BamaTrainman posted:

I don’t understand how the system Bruce is using would indicate a track selection if the transformer is off.

I do that at the control panel which has bi-color (red/green) LED lamps to indicate position of all the switches. Over a drawing of the layout, LED lamps are positioned at the diverging and through ends of every switch. A green-lit LED on a track leaving the switch means that that particular track is selected and safe for the train to traverse.     This indicator system uses a separate power supply from the transformer.

Do you think you really need something to indicate a track is powered? My layout has been operating for 25+ years with 15 yard tracks and 12 TT tracks, mostly selected by rotary switches. I have never installed power indicators and don't miss not having them. But that's only me. Lionel engines mostly light up when power is first applied (except for Legacy), so there is that.

If I was going to do this I would probably use something simple like Lionels inexpensive plastic bumpers with a simple 5mm red led and a 1K load resistor added. I run all command so track voltage is pretty much constant.

Rod

Hi Gunner, hope you are well.  A quick question if I may.  Inside your Hobo house above, did you use something similar to a 4 or a 6 gang boat rocker switch panel ???   Ths.  Tommy

@thebeeman posted:

Hi Gunner, hope you are well.  A quick question if I may.  Inside your Hobo house above, did you use something similar to a 4 or a 6 gang boat rocker switch panel ???   Ths.  Tommy

No switches in there, they're just indicators.  I made a PCB to hold the indicator panels.

For the insanely curious, here's the schematic.  The indicators are 4 LED panels, and there are four of them.  Each indicator segment has two LED's to light them.

@Rod Stewart posted:

Do you think you really need something to indicate a track is powered?

How often we do this.  Rod, it appears that you're questioning the sanity of the original poster.

If this person took the time to put it into words, they've probably also taken the time to think about it first, but maybe not.

Do you have to ask them whether they really meant what they said?

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

How often we do this.  Rod, it appears that you're questioning the sanity of the original poster.

If this person took the time to put it into words, they've probably also taken the time to think about it first, but maybe not.

Do you have to ask them whether they really meant what they said?

Mike

"But that's only me."

Rod