What This Pro Tech HO Scale Signal Installation Revealed...
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- Working signals really do add something to the atmosphere of a layout. But they can be difficult to get working, especially if you want automated signaling with occupancy detection and so on. However, you don’t need to get that sophisticated with it. In this video I’m going to review and install a signal from Pro Tech and connect it to a Tortoise Slow Motion Switch Machine.
The signal I'm reviewing is the PTMR 1B True Scale "Bi-Color (Green/Red) LED" Searchlight Signal (HO Scale). Other variations are available in both HO and N scales.
Pro Tech Model Parts Site: www.protechmodelparts.com/
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Great tutorial! Signals really do make a big difference. You need them, because They Make It Like That!
Thanks!
Hi Joe, this is one of the reasons I prefer building small industrial layouts. With just the one little shunter there's no need for signals. And I completely get your hesitation with fiddeling with this type of "micro" electronics 👍
I’m torn. I love the look of them and have enjoyed running layouts with fully automated systems. But it’s definitely not something I’m prepared to tackle on my own just yet. I’d need some help.
@@ThePixelDepotLLC I felt the same way years ago, and now my layouts are mostly just an excuse to build signal and interlocking systems! I am a bit of a Luddite and use relay logic, although I do use a lot of diodes and commercial detections systems (Bruce Chubb, IRDOT, others). I had the luxury of getting to spend a lot of time in a few prototype towers between 1988 and 1992 and observing how the "real thing" worked. The whole tower "atmosphere" is something I strive to replicate.
Use a small straw to feed the wires down thru the layout, saves the extra steps you did on the soldering.
Great advice!
Easy peasy for sure. Signals are something I'm not really looking forward to. Electrical in general is no issue to me, but for some reason I got it in my head that signaling will be a nightmare. 🤣
I hear you. Even though this particular install was easy, doing it on a large scale would still give me pause.
Just a FYI. If you insert a drinking straw into the hole you will minimize the trouble of snaking the wire through the layout base. It appears you didn't have this problem though.
With the size bit we use, it would need to be a thin straw. But it would prevent getting hung up on things it you could find one small enough. 👍🏻
@@ThePixelDepotLLC How about those little straws that are used to stir alcohol drinks. There are about 16th to 3/32 diameter
@@154Colin could work. But I wonder if that goes too far the other way. It might have worked for the signal install, assuming that you remove the resistor first. But I think this would be too small for normal drops.
😊
You could have wired that so the turnout would throw too. In the video it looked like when you flipped the switch, the light changed but the turnout did not. Pins 1 & 8 are power and go to 12v via a dpdt switch, however, if you jump from pin 2 to 7 and pin 3 to 6 and run 6 & 7 to separate 12v as well, when you flip the switch, the tortoise will move and the internal switch in the tortoise will change the signal that will be connected to pins 4&5. Your signal should not have gone to the panel switch at all. I use this method for running leds to panel lights but it doesn’t matter if the light is a signal or panel indicator.
Hi Jeff. Sorry if it wasn't clear from the video, but that is what we did. Flipping the switch on the fascia toggles the points on the turnout as well as the aspect of the signal.
Very nice video on installing signal, I have a question, if the switch is thrown to green how do you know the track does not have an opposing train ? I know we are talking about detection but is there a way to monitor the block with out detection?
In my case, you’d check with the dispatcher to find out about an opposing train. I am no expert on signaling, but I don’t know if a way to monitor the block without some sort of detection. There may be a way with JMRI but I’ve never looked into it.
Hi! Where did you get the black switch holder on your fascia (6:03) from? Thank-you.
Mike.
That was actually repurposed from a Berrett Hill touch toggle that wasn't working like I hoped for that turnout. I don't know if you can buy the cups by themselves.
@@ThePixelDepotLLC Thank-you!
Can these be hooked up to a Bachmann turnouts??
It’s actually not connected to the turnout itself, but rather is powered by the switch machine. If you’re using switch machines with your Bachmann turnouts, I would think you could make it work.
Now you need a relay box....
Good call!
Why don't you just put a straw or other hollow item through the hole with all your other wiring attached (so you don't have to solder under the layout) up to connecting to the switch machine?
That probably would have worked, but I’d worry that the hole you’d have to make to get a large enough straw though would be too big. Thoughts?