4:55 the 2 power inputs is used to daisy chain power to the next board, This is a copy of how it was done with the original board made well before atlas took over that company and produced them in house.
Ok I have watched your videos serval times now ,so to get me started for each signal head, I need a control board plus a power supply, still have a lot more to learn but this a start, also subscribed to your channel
The extra set of power terminals on the Atlas Board, are to Chain and Extend power to another Board, so I used them to power my IA Scaled Atom BD Board. 😊
In this video (or possibly the predecessor), you mention, using an ethernet splitter coming out of the Atlas control board to duplicate the signal. I've tried two separate 2 to 1 ethernet splitters off Amazon, and neither has worked. Both of the splitters were "dumb" and had no hub/switch technology. They simply split the signal in two. Would you please share the part number for the model of ethernet splitter you found that works? It would be greatly appreciated! Thanks - Tim in CO
Hi, I also want to use 1 Atlas Signal Control Board to send at the same time, the identical signal, to 2 Atlas Signals poles. I was going to purchase an ethernet splitter like you; but you tried and it did not work. You mentioned that your splitter "simply split the signal in two". Isn't that what you wanted? You said that niether of your splitters worked. Did they do anything ?
Great explanation !!! BTW your ballast work is amazing!. How would this system work with RAILPRO,where the track voltage is constant (12-14vdc) and comm is via radio? There isnt much info on this.
I have a problem with a 3 block basic mainline and siding I'd like to see if you have some suggestions. When I throw the turnout to the main and back to the siding and it doesn’t clear until a train moves out of the siding block. Is there some way i can DM you for some advice?
What are you using to power the block detector, and whats powering the atlas control board? So, the only wire that runs from the block detector to the Atlas board, is the one D in line? Thanks so much!!
The block detector and the control board must be powered by the same 12v power supply. I am using an inexpensive 12v power supply off to eBay. Yes the d input forms a circuit with the power supply and board which is why they must be on the same power source.
I have a double track mainline and will have universal crossovers between the 2 mains...I will have 2 of the Atlas cantilever signals....four signals on each cantilever....How many signal control boards will I need? I am thinking 8 one for each signal?
Hi quick question will the hook up you did with the tortoise and signal work as the atlas interlocking boards? I haven't seen one in operation but was curious if you recently used one. If not like to do what you did in video thanks great work.Tom
Sorry haven’t tested with interlocking but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. We were all hoping the interlocking board would include an interface for JMRI. Very disappointed you can’t use the atlas system with computerized ctc yet.
@areakt thanks do you use that with a block detector for switch? Wasn't sure. Also if thst works well I'll use that type of hook up stupid question the signal drops to red when train passes? Thanks tom
@@tomthetank924 Yes, I use the Iowa Scaled Block detectors which are easy to use and work well with the Atlas system. And yes the signal displays red when the train passes and occupies the block or when the switch is thrown against you if you're feeding it that info from your tortoise.
I can’t get the Iowa Atom BD to see the Train on my isolated Test block. Just a Green Led. Does the Loco have to have Lights on for Load for it to Detect? Will it Detect Metal Wheels on Cars or must they be Resistor Wheel sets? I haven’t connected the Wire from the Detector to the Atlas DIN yet because it’s obvious the IA Detector doesn’t see anything yet. Doing this all topside jumpered together. Using Alligator Clip lead and a wire stub to pass through the Donut. Clip end on Block Rail. Should in theory work??
The loco will be detected as long as it is on the track and has a decoder etc. usually if it’s still green it’s because the BD sensitivity isn’t set high enough. Usually this is adjusted by tightening a screw on the BD. For cars to be detected they must have lights or a resistor between the wheels.
You have to wire the override on the atlas board to the position switch output on your switch machine (Kato or tortoise) so it will throw a red signal if your switch is thrown against you. It’s easy on the tortoise machines but not sure about Kato. If you have manually thrown turnouts you’ll have to build a switch into your facia to indicate turnout position. By the time you go to that trouble you might as well just buy a $15 tortoise machine and use that instead. For my layout I don’t include manual spurs in the signal system. Best use is for sidings and single track or maybe double track Leave the industries as dark territory off of your sidings. Never put an industry on the main of you can avoid it.
I'm thinking of going the Atlas route and use and NCE system I use Switch8 MK2s and Tortoises can I still use the Switch8 MK2 to switch my Tortoises while the signal changes as well?
Yes as long as you still have the tortoise outputs to tell the atlas system what position the switch is in you should be fine. You just run the tortoise indication output to the atlas signal override input.
@@areakt thanks I'm liking how simple the Atlas system seems to be so far I suppose the instructions would clarify it as well? I find some videos are still a bit vague on how to wire such systems up I know once you get the hang of it it just becomes second nature lol
@@losi5ivet29cc The instructions were a little hard to follow for the average application so that's why I made the video series on them, frankly so I could watch it when I forget how to wire them up. ;)
@@areakt lol 😆 I have a signal I bought a while back that I wouldn't mind experimenting with its a BLMA without the plug but what intrigued me about the Atlas system is the components are fairly inexpensive so if I buy a signal controller to experiment with I will eventually get some more in the future. Thanks for the advice :)
If you’re going JMRI why not just use that, some NCE Light-it’s and the ISE current detectors? Might save $$$ over the Atlas components, which wouldn’t be needed as the signal logic would be handed fully via the computer.
Thank you for a good couple of videos. That was very helpful. I'm getting ready to set up signaling on my small lay out here at home.
Great! Big help to me! Just got first Starter Signal Set and an Iowa Scale BD. Starting on it tomorrow. 🎉
Thank you for sharing another video
4:55 the 2 power inputs is used to daisy chain power to the next board, This is a copy of how it was done with the original board made well before atlas took over that company and produced them in house.
thank you for great detail video
This is awesome
Ok I have watched your videos serval times now ,so to get me started for each signal head, I need a control board plus a power supply, still have a lot more to learn but this a start, also subscribed to your channel
thks a lot!!! very easy!!!
That 4-pin connector you were looking for? It is from Amphenol ICC / FCI. Part number 10114829-10104LF. Shhh don't tell anyone : )
The extra set of power terminals on the Atlas Board, are to Chain and Extend power to another Board, so I used them to power my IA Scaled Atom BD Board. 😊
In this video (or possibly the predecessor), you mention, using an ethernet splitter coming out of the Atlas control board to duplicate the signal. I've tried two separate 2 to 1 ethernet splitters off Amazon, and neither has worked. Both of the splitters were "dumb" and had no hub/switch technology. They simply split the signal in two. Would you please share the part number for the model of ethernet splitter you found that works? It would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks - Tim in CO
Hi, I also want to use 1 Atlas Signal Control Board to send at the same time, the identical signal, to 2 Atlas Signals poles. I was going to purchase an ethernet splitter like you; but you tried and it did not work. You mentioned that your splitter "simply split the signal in two". Isn't that what you wanted? You said that niether of your splitters worked. Did they do anything ?
Great explanation !!! BTW your ballast work is amazing!. How would this system work with RAILPRO,where the track voltage is constant (12-14vdc) and comm is via radio? There isnt much info on this.
Thank you! With railpro the tracks would still drop the voltage in the section the train is in so I think detection should work the same.
@@areakt Thank you, I will try it.
I have a problem with a 3 block basic mainline and siding I'd like to see if you have some suggestions. When I throw the turnout to the main and back to the siding and it doesn’t clear until a train moves out of the siding block. Is there some way i can DM you for some advice?
What are you using to power the block detector, and whats powering the atlas control board? So, the only wire that runs from the block detector to the Atlas board, is the one D in line? Thanks so much!!
The block detector and the control board must be powered by the same 12v power supply. I am using an inexpensive 12v power supply off to eBay. Yes the d input forms a circuit with the power supply and board which is why they must be on the same power source.
I have a double track mainline and will have universal crossovers between the 2 mains...I will have 2 of the Atlas cantilever signals....four signals on each cantilever....How many signal control boards will I need? I am thinking 8 one for each signal?
Yes you will need 8. One for each signal unfortunately.
Hi quick question will the hook up you did with the tortoise and signal work as the atlas interlocking boards? I haven't seen one in operation but was curious if you recently used one. If not like to do what you did in video thanks great work.Tom
Sorry haven’t tested with interlocking but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. We were all hoping the interlocking board would include an interface for JMRI. Very disappointed you can’t use the atlas system with computerized ctc yet.
@areakt thanks do you use that with a block detector for switch? Wasn't sure. Also if thst works well I'll use that type of hook up stupid question the signal drops to red when train passes? Thanks tom
@@tomthetank924 Yes, I use the Iowa Scaled Block detectors which are easy to use and work well with the Atlas system. And yes the signal displays red when the train passes and occupies the block or when the switch is thrown against you if you're feeding it that info from your tortoise.
Thank you.
How do I move the jp2 to the alternate position??
I can’t get the Iowa Atom BD to see the Train on my isolated Test block. Just a Green Led.
Does the Loco have to have Lights on for Load for it to Detect? Will it Detect Metal Wheels on Cars or must they be Resistor Wheel sets?
I haven’t connected the Wire from the Detector to the Atlas DIN yet because it’s obvious the IA Detector doesn’t see anything yet.
Doing this all topside jumpered together. Using Alligator Clip lead and a wire stub to pass through the Donut. Clip end on Block Rail. Should in theory work??
The loco will be detected as long as it is on the track and has a decoder etc. usually if it’s still green it’s because the BD sensitivity isn’t set high enough. Usually this is adjusted by tightening a screw on the BD. For cars to be detected they must have lights or a resistor between the wheels.
I got some IA Scaled email Support. All I needed. Going to change way test feeder routes through Donut. Couldn’t Spoof it.
How does this work when turnouts are manual? Or powered with factory motor (in my case KATO)?
You have to wire the override on the atlas board to the position switch output on your switch machine (Kato or tortoise) so it will throw a red signal if your switch is thrown against you. It’s easy on the tortoise machines but not sure about Kato. If you have manually thrown turnouts you’ll have to build a switch into your facia to indicate turnout position. By the time you go to that trouble you might as well just buy a $15 tortoise machine and use that instead. For my layout I don’t include manual spurs in the signal system. Best use is for sidings and single track or maybe double track Leave the industries as dark territory off of your sidings. Never put an industry on the main of you can avoid it.
How do you move the jumper J2 to the alternate position? Is there a small switch on the board . My signal lights don’t come on when power is applied.
You just pull the jumper plug up and move it over to the pins next to it.
Ok, I’ll try that and see what I can figure out. Thank you
I'm thinking of going the Atlas route and use and NCE system I use Switch8 MK2s and Tortoises can I still use the Switch8 MK2 to switch my Tortoises while the signal changes as well?
Yes as long as you still have the tortoise outputs to tell the atlas system what position the switch is in you should be fine. You just run the tortoise indication output to the atlas signal override input.
@@areakt thanks I'm liking how simple the Atlas system seems to be so far I suppose the instructions would clarify it as well? I find some videos are still a bit vague on how to wire such systems up I know once you get the hang of it it just becomes second nature lol
@@losi5ivet29cc The instructions were a little hard to follow for the average application so that's why I made the video series on them, frankly so I could watch it when I forget how to wire them up. ;)
@@areakt lol 😆 I have a signal I bought a while back that I wouldn't mind experimenting with its a BLMA without the plug but what intrigued me about the Atlas system is the components are fairly inexpensive so if I buy a signal controller to experiment with I will eventually get some more in the future. Thanks for the advice :)
2:27 d’oh!
If you’re going JMRI why not just use that, some NCE Light-it’s and the ISE current detectors? Might save $$$ over the Atlas components, which wouldn’t be needed as the signal logic would be handed fully via the computer.
agreed, signal decoders would be a hell of a lot cheaper
What about azatrax ?