motorized wigwag

[Cajonpassfan]

Otto, is that Hwy 138?

Yes. Looking down the "new" uphill line. Today, there's an overpass at this location.
Otto

[randgust]

If you need to study one close-up, I'd recommend the Colorado Railroad Museum at Golden.   They have one operating at the entrance (right across from the Coors Brewery).    I shot video of it a couple weeks ago.   Seems to me there is also one at Orange Empire near Perris, but that's a fuzzy memory.

You guys aren't mentioning the sound.   It needs sound, too.   Doesn't have to be expensive, one of those cheap digital recorders would probably work.

[alhoop]

You guys aren't mentioning the sound.   It needs sound, too.   Doesn't have to be expensive, one of those cheap digital recorders would probably work.

Working on it Randy -- because of you and the guy from Melbourne.

Al

[peteski]

Which greeting card (or toy) did that circuit come from?

Will the sound be synchronized with the swinging? 

[alhoop]

Which greeting card (or toy) did that circuit come from?


Will the sound be synchronized with the swinging? 

About the only use I ever found for this was to record on which row I was parked.
In and out - the unit is only good for 10 seconds record time.
I re-synchronize every 9.5 seconds.
Don't know how to hack that blob.
Al

[peteski]

About the only use I ever found for this was to record on which row I was parked.
In and out - the unit is only good for 10 seconds record time.
I re-synchronize every 9.5 seconds.
Don't know how to hack that blob.
Al

Thanks for the info Al. The only way I can see to synchronize the dinging would be to record only 1 or 2 dings and then trigger it by a cam and a switch on the rotating motor shaft.

[randgust]

Other than starting and stopping at the same time, I can't see any evidence that the dinging is synchronized with the swinging arm.   All the way to the end of this video I shot at CRM.

I think it's two entirely separate functions on the actual.  It's not like there's a bell in the wig-wag that clangs.

/>
This is what I've used for my sound clips on the layout activated by an external action.   What I like is that it will play the entire clip with one touch of the button - it isn't 'on/off'.   If you hit the button repeatedly it restarts the clip.   
https://www.radioshack.com/products/9v-recording-module?variant=5717581701

It's a little faint, but it's running on this one.   Sound was recorded off a videotape of the actual location, the entire RS unit is stuffed in the hotel behind the crossing.

/>

[C855B]

Other than starting and stopping at the same time, I can't see any evidence that the dinging is synchronized with the swinging arm.   All the way to the end of this video I shot at CRM.

I think it's two entirely separate functions on the actual.  It's not like there's a bell in the wig-wag that clangs.

/>

Inconclusive. We'd need to see the other side to verify, but the wig-wag in the video is either a non-bell model, or the bell (on the other side, possibly) is broken or otherwise disabled. The bell you hear in the video is a regular Western Cullen teardrop at the top of the post.

Fully acknowledging my old fart credentials, wig-wags in real life would strike the gong with each each swing in both directions, near the end of the swing.

Here's one operating like it's supposed to, @5:38:

/>
EDIT: Here's another good one, @0:35:

[Hamaker]

Wig Wag signals should be required at all grade crossings until us old farts die off !

[alhoop]

In an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show' that aired recently Opie asked Andy what were they going
to eat. Andy replied that Opie and Aunt Bea would be eating chicken and that he ,Andy, would have
a nice helping of crow.
Now it's time that I ate a little crow.Everything peteski said on page two and three of this thread is
correct and the only thing I said  that was correct was how to calculate a load resistor.
As I was in the process of adding sound to the Wig-Wag circuit I thought I might reduce the units
current drain. I ordered a pair of the 3mm IR diode and transistor that peteski said he uses and
with less than half (30ma)the diode current(70ma)I was using the detection distance was at
least quadrupled. Those new diodes must be super efficient. Maybe this had something to do with
it:
http://phys.org/news/2012-03-efficiency.html

Thanks peteski for getting me off the 1980's technology and up to date.

Al

[peteski]

No problem Al - thanks for the follow up, and for actually being curious enough to consider my advice.  I was a bit surprised with how strongly you defended your stance, but I didn't continue the argument - there was no loss for me. I knew what worked for me.

As far as technology is concerned, you might have been actually using '70s (not '80s) technology.  The circuit I built using the 5mm (T-1 3/4) case IR LED and photo-transistor was built in the early '90s and those parts weren't brand new.  So I would say those parts were designed in the '80s.  I have built another detector circuit using 3mm (T-1) parts with similar results a few years later.

You're absolutely correct - LED technology has been advancing steadily since they were introduced commercially (in late '60s I think).  I still remember marveling in the mid '70s that a tiny semiconductor component can emit faint red glow as an indicator lamp using very little current and without heat.  That was my first encounter with an LED. Then yellow and green LEDs became available and that was just awesome for me at that time.

Now the LEDs are so efficient and bright that they are replacing the conventional incandescent and fluorescent household and commercial lighting.  That is all due to the development of the super-bright blue LEDs.  I never imagined that those humble LEDs would be bright enough to be used as a source of light.  Nowadays we have white LEDs available in a wide range of color temperatures. Most new flashlights use LEDs, and so do some car and motorcycle headlights!  I have LED light bulbs installed in few rooms of my house. The city of Manchaster, NH replaced all of their streetlights with LED-based lights.  They are physically much smaller than the mercury lamp fixtures, and are just as bright (or even brighter).  It really is revolutionary.

Same advancement happened with IR LEDs - they are smaller, more efficient and brighter. I'm glad you discovered that for yourself (and abandoned clinging to some old textbook knowledge).