Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

Thanks, Gary!  But demonstrating the limits of my craftsmanship, this happened this afternoon . . .

A test of the flashing RR crossing signals.  I may have the same problem as @Chris333.  Granted, I don't have any IR detectors hooked up, but I don't see why that would matter.  As you can see, the first signal I installed works fine, but the second doesn't.  Two out of the four LEDs do not function (the pair that are back to back).  I cannot see how I wired something up incorrectly, since the same connections are made to both signals and the first signal works great.  Ideas?

DFF

[Chris333]

   I jinxed you! Just about every layout at a train show has these so I can't be that hard...

[davefoxx]

It almost has to be in the signal, but that thing is prebuilt and painted.  I don't know how to begin troubleshooting the signal itself.  I hope someone has some experience and, more importantly, a fix that doesn't require removing the signal.  I have another pair of signals, but I really don't want to have to pull that one as it is spiked and CA'd into place.

DFF

[eric220]

it is spiked and CA'd into place.

And what have we learned here?   

[davefoxx]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.    But, now that I understand the wiring and the circuitry after installing these two signals, I know how to prewire and test a signal.  When I began, however, these things were easily pushing the limits of my electrical know-how.  In my defense, the instructions recommend not to power the signals up until all connections are made.  I disregarded that when I powered them up this afternoon, because I haven't installed or wired the IR detectors.  Now that I know the signals flash without the IR detectors, I know how to test them.  In other words, it took me installing the doggone things to figure them out.

I may just prewire a third signal and test it under the layout before pulling the second signal.  Since the signal is CA'd to painted styrene, I'm sure it will just pop off.  The spike is just an Atlas track nail through the base of the signal into the styrene sidewalk, and it should just pull right out with a pair of needlenose pliers.  I just don't want to have to go there, that's all.

DFF

[mu26aeh]

Maybe an email to NJ Int to see if they have repair work available ?

[davefoxx]

Much better!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Maybe an email to NJ Int to see if they have repair work available ?

I definitely plan on contacting them, because I have two signals that need repair.  These things ain't exactly cheap, you know.

DFF

[davefoxx]

I spent quite a few hours today soldering leads to the four photocell* sensors, drilling carefully through the track and HCD to place the sensors, and fishing wires down under to do a temporary set up and test the complete system.  Aaaaaand . . . success again!

Now that I know it works, the sensors need to be glued in place and the wiring underneath the table needs to be trimmed to final length and properly fished to contain most of it inside the HCD.

DFF

*I mistakenly said I was using IR sensors in previous posts, but when I tore into the package this morning, I was reminded that I did order photocell sensors with the grade crossing circuitry.  I don't generally run in the dark, so they're good enough for my use.

[Chris333]

What flasher circuit did you use? I might need to try it...

[davefoxx]

What flasher circuit did you use? I might need to try it...

The "Grade Crossing Pro" by Logic Rail Technologies.  The instructions were daunting, but now that I've put one together, it's not nearly as complicated as it first seems.  Here's some of its features:

https://www.logicrailtech.com/gcp.htm

DFF

[Chris333]

Dang $50 to make lights blink. Seems like a $5 item.

[Philip H]

I've got a Dalee Electronics flasher I picked up at Timonium last year for $7.50 that I am playing with. It only ah does one pair of lights, but it seems to work well.

[auburnrails]

Dang $50 to make lights blink. Seems like a $5 item.

I really want some signals like these, but I'm leaning towards putting them on a toggle or something and just self-activating.  I'll be doing a lot of switching anyhow so they would likely be down 90% of the time if I put them on some sort of detection system.

These look great though!

-Dave

[sizemore]

I like the crossing, and the view down the street, Dave!

The S.