Flasher circuit

[Chris333]

I bought a set of NJ International crossbucks with lights (no gates).

What is the cheapest way to get them to flash when a choo choo train  goes by?

[Scottl]

Repeatedly blink your eyes as the train approaches.  For added realism, say "ding, ding, ding..." 

[DKS]

The absolute cheapest is of course to roll your own.

This will make them blink: http://wild-bohemian.com/electronics/flasher.html

And this will turn them on and off: http://www.mrollins.com/photodet.html

If you're looking for pre-built, Micro-Mark has one that's not too overpriced (surprising for MM): http://www.micromark.com/grade-crossing-flasher-circuit,8714.html

[Chris333]

Man so almost $90 for a flasher and 2 detectors that make my $25 light blink. I should have taken up stamp collecting...

If I build the circuit myself that will involve throwing things across the room when it doesn't work.

[Scottl]

That circuit looks to be about $5 worth of parts...

[Chris333]

After a second look I guess I might take a try at that and skip the sensors.

If I screw that up I can live with it.

[Philip H]

Do the blinky circuit and use a toggle switch to turn it on and off.

[DKS]

Do the blinky circuit and use a toggle switch to turn it on and off.

+1

[Philip H]

I wonder if you could drive 4 1.5mm SMDs off this one:

http://www.rainbowkits.com/kits/mb-2p.html

That way you could run both from a single economical circuit with the trusty toggle switch.

Oh, and Honest Lee's Surplus Supply and Restore shop often has 12VDC wall warts that could power a whole layout of these.

[Ian MacMillan]

I have always liked LogicRailTech products.

Grade Crossing Pro
http://www.logicrailtech.com/gcp.htm

[Chris333]

OK I built the circuit and I'm running it off a 9V battery. When I hook them up the barely light up (had to shut all the lights off) and don't flash. In the circuit there are resistors going to the LEDs. The NJ crossbucks also have resistors. So is that the problem?  Will the resistors in the circuit be OK by themselves?

BTW these crossbucks look like crap. I had to straighten them out. The signs are stickers with a clear edge over hanging everywhere. And 1 of the 8 LED isn't working. I should of just bought something static, oh wait they don't exist 

[peteski]

OK I built the circuit and I'm running it off a 9V battery. When I hook them up the barely light up (had to shut all the lights off) and don't flash. In the circuit there are resistors going to the LEDs. The NJ crossbucks also have resistors. So is that the problem?  Will the resistors in the circuit be OK by themselves?

BTW these crossbucks look like crap. I had to straighten them out. The signs are stickers with a clear edge over hanging everywhere. And 1 of the 8 LED isn't working. I should of just bought something static, oh wait they don't exist 

Specifically, which circuit?  Can't help if we don't know what you have.  Also, do you have a diagram (or a description) how the NJ International signals are wired up?  I don't own one with LEDs installed.

BTW, you can make them static by just not hooking them up. 

[Chris333]

Specifically, which circuit?

http://wild-bohemian.com/electronics/images/t-flash2.gif

how the NJ International signals are wired up?

There are 3 wires coming out of each one. 1 common and 1 for each set of 2 LEDs (on either side of the signal)

BTW, you can make them static by just not hooking them up. 

Yeah, but they would still be ugly then. I meant some other route, but there really is none.

[DKS]

I'd omit the resistors on the crossbucks and rely on the ones in the circuit. Using both affects brightness and flash rate.

[wazzou]

I second the need for highly detailed static models of crossing signals.