N Scale Hi Rail - Retro Hollow Core Door Layout

[Point353]

Another necessity resolved by invention.  Just in time for Mother's Day!
As scenery begins to close in around the PawPaw end of the layout, the light switch situation has become the center of some controversy.
I came up with this contraption to reduce the risk to trains in the station, as well as allow me to install a more complete scene to mask the switch plate.


I simply dremelled a slot into the nose of the switches and installed a stiff wire between them, with a properly shaped throw bar to pull the assembly up and down.
I used a scrap of brass as a keeper, attached to the switch plate with the mounting screws.  A nub of wire insulation protects the operator's digits from the pointy bit of wire.



I'll add a few roof details to provide further deception to the eye of the beholder, but more importantly, it works!

Lee

DKS would have connected the throw bar to a switch machine, which would then be remotely actuated from the layout's control panel.

[peteski]

[wm3798]

I'll keep it simple, I think.
Worst case, I'll paint the rod pale blue.
No need to make it glow... there's an enormous window that floods the room with daylight, so the only time I really need to see it is when I'm turning them off at the end of the night..
Lee

[davefoxx]

Man, I just hope that contraption isn't this coming over the horizon. 





DFF

[wm3798]

Been there done that!

[peteski]

That's right - Ghostbusters were dispatched too - I love it!

[eja]

Rotate that  "handle" and the water tower a few degrees, put an LED on the end of the handle and have it illuminate the signage on the water tower.     But what do I know....

[wm3798]

Hmm.  What size resistor would I need to step down the household 110v to light an LED?

[davefoxx]

Hmm.  What size resistor would I need to step down the household 110v to light an LED?

Probably this thing:

DFF

[ChristianJDavis1]

Hmm.  What size resistor would I need to step down the household 110v to light an LED?

None unless you want the LED to work more than once.

[peteski]

Hmm.  What size resistor would I need to step down the household 110v to light an LED?

If this is a serious question, I wouldn't recommend it.
If you really want do, it then you need another diode (like 1N4002) added in series with the resistor/LED (to protect the LED from excessive reverse current/voltage).  Also since most of the power will be dissipated at the resistor, use a high efficiency LED (like white or blue), so it will be bright enough even with very low current passing through it < 1mA.

For around 0.5mA of current for the LED, the resistor would have to be around 116,000 ohms (116k ohms), 0.25W.

Much safer alternative would be to use one of those tiny cube USB chargers for a couple of bucks.  They safely convert 120V AC to 5V DC. Voltage where LEDs are much more "at home".

[wm3798]

Heh.  I really don't want to!

[CRL]

Just use one of these.

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[marklin-au]

  The power pole shown in Dave Foxx message   what is the bunch of cables at the top in the canister used for  ? Telecommunications or some other infernal  contraption . I realise the 3 phase house supply  is shown  below running thru a type of hook or clamp but I have never seen phone cables above supply voltage cables  ,it is usually always run & terminated  below the power to minimise accidents  .. 

   Cheers   Tom in Oz .

[peteski]

  The power pole shown in Dave Foxx message   what is the bunch of cables at the top in the canister used for  ? Telecommunications or some other infernal  contraption . I realise the 3 phase house supply  is shown  below running thru a type of hook or clamp but I have never seen phone cables above supply voltage cables  ,it is usually always run & terminated  below the power to minimise accidents  .. 

   Cheers   Tom in Oz .

Hi Tom,
Dave just used a photo of a cellular 5G antenna we have been discussing in another current thread started by me (with more photos, explanation and some typical Railwire humor).  It is in the Crew Lounge  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=52046.0 . Unfortunately you need 25 posts to access the Crew Lounge.  However, once you have 25 posts under your belt, you will be able to read all about that antenna.  And yes, it is above the primary wires.