Simple Block Detection w/Signal

[ednadolski]

The reason I am shying away from (not not totally discounting) a light-source solution is a) if the train is in the block but not covering the sensor, the signal shows clear and b) to fix that with two sensors (in/out one at each end of the block) seems like more work than simple occupancy detection.

Light-source will give you point detection, but current detection will trigger on anything detectable in the block.  So your block can be large enough to hold an entire train. 

Ed

[peteski]

The reason I am shying away from (not not totally discounting) a light-source solution is a) if the train is in the block but not covering the sensor, the signal shows clear and b) to fix that with two sensors (in/out one at each end of the block) seems like more work than simple occupancy detection.

Rob

The way I'm thinking is that an optical, or few of them would be simpler than equipping *ALL* of your rolling stock with resistors.  Unless of course you only use a dozen or so cars on our layout.

Optical detection also does not have to be with the beam of light perpendicular to the track. It could be diagonal across the track giving you longer detection zone.

[robertjohndavis]

The way I'm thinking is that an optical, or few of them would be simpler than equipping *ALL* of your rolling stock with resistors.  Unless of course you only use a dozen or so cars on our layout.

Optical detection also does not have to be with the beam of light perpendicular to the track. It could be diagonal across the track giving you longer detection zone.

Good point. I should revisit the multiple  optical detector scenario. I get a little concerned when
I think of the coverage required to accurately detect something short like a two RDC train.

With they way my layout is primarily used, there aren’t many times that a train goes out without lighted coaches or a caboose. Equipping my small caboose fleet and a few unlit coaches with resistors doesn’t seem like a big hurdle, but I may be under estimating.

fixed broken /quote -gfh