Do you need any special unit to operate crossing signals? I have ordered some thru my hobby shop but don’t know what I need to operate them with. Are they costly? Any info would be appreciated.
Hello, and welcome! But your question more properly belongs on the MODEL RAILROADER board.
Like Al says, the MR board is where you need to be, but…
You need something to activate them, be it a switch on the side of your layout, photocells, or a track occupancy detector circuit. The last two have been covered over the years in MR.
Enjoy! And come on over to the “real” side of railroading for a visit from time to time. If operation is your bag on your layout, you’ll learn something of how things are done in the real world, which can enhance your model operations.
That title was way too misleading…
[:-^]
Yes, you’re going to need a crossing signal controller similar to the Grade Crossing Pro from Logic Rail Technologies. There are several others available; that is the one I use and it has proven to be very reliable.
http://www.logicrailtech.com/xcart/home.php?cat=260
You need to be more specific about what you have ordered – here in the U.S. the name is spelled “Busch” – it’s German. And they have different types of HO road crossing signals, both with and without controllers. In the Walthers 2008 HO scale catalog, page 318, are European style crossing gates and signals that include controllers, U.S. style crossing signals with controllers, and Belgian Railway Crossing Flashers without controllers plus several other types that seem to be only the signals and no controllers. Even traffic lights with and without controllers.
If you don’t really understand what you have ordered through the hobby shop, you’ll just have to wait and see what shows up.
I just double-checked…this IS the Model Railroader forum.
Anyway, the Busch signals I have installed (HO 5934) include a flasher circuit. The flasher will work fine with just an on/off switch for manual operation. If you want automatic operation, a detection circuit will be needed. My favorite off-the-shelf detection circuit is the DT-2 made by Circuitron (The Tortoise Switch Machine people). This device uses photocells mounted between the rails to detect the presence of an oncoming train. The circuit recognizes the direction of travel as well as when a train stops, reverses direction, and clears the crossing towards the same side from which it came.
One minor drawback of this detection scheme is that it requires a minimum amount of ambient room light to operate properly. When the train shades the photocell, the circuit energizes, so in a darkened room, the lights will flash constantly. My solution to this was to install a double pole, double throw, center off bypass switch that allows for automatic operation, manual operation, and off. If the lights are off, I flip the switch from “off” to “manual” to make the signals flash. With the lights on, I leave the switch in the “automatic” position.
chicochip
Hello there: I received my crossing signals today. They are from Busch (German). Do you need a particular item to made them work on my layout? Or can you wire them to the track wiring? You mentioned an item in my first inquiry about these crossing signals. I live in Calgary , Alberta, Canada - does the company ship up here to us or does anyone know of a company in Canada that has a unit to operate these signals. Any further help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Greg Clarke
Was this topic moved? A couple of people replied you need to be on the Model Railroader boards…these are the Model Railroader boards. I know its been a long day but…
Whatever happened here is at least contained in this thread----the OP will find his answer here—
Greg, Did a Busch flasher unit come with the signals? If so, you just need to wire it to a fixed voltage power source. You cannot use track power as a power source, if that is what you are asking. Offhand, I don’t recall if they require AC or DC as I replaced mine with another brand. As others suggest, you can control them with a simple on off switch or with a more complicated detection system. John Timm
www.circuitron.com
Yes. You need
Electrical software to operate signal lights,
Motor (& linkage) to operate crossing gates
3 - Actuators to ‘turn on - off’ the above, otherwise they just sit there…
COST: may be more than your hardware (signals) - see your LHS… Things that move always cost more than things that don’t…
YES.
Electronic board to operate signal lights.
Motor & linkage to operate crossing gates.
Actuation device to tur on-off above.
- otherwise they just sit there.
cost - see your hobby store.
I was reading information in my Walthers catalogue that you should not use the Circuitron unit with DCC which my system is Digitrax Zepher controller. Also do you know where one can get photocells to use with the crossing signals? Thank you for you help.
Greg Clarke
I was reading information in my Walthers catalogue that you should not use the Circuitron unit with DCC which my system is Digitrax Zepher controller. Also do you know where one can get photocells to use with the crossing signals? Thank you for you help.
Greg Clarke
They probably mean that you should not power the Circutron system from your DCC command station or power supply. A separate power supply is going to be necessary.
There should be no electrical connection at all between the signals and track power.
For my road crossing signals I used Tomar signals and the Grade Crossing Pro circuit board from Logic Rail Technologies, powered from a computer power supply which also provides the power for building lights, block signals, Tortoise switch machines, and everything else on the layout except the DCC system.
My grade crossing signals, circuit board/controller and detection system all came from Berkshire Junction. Mine are actuated by IR so that they will work in the dark.
Berkshire Junction offers their circuit boards and detection systems as separate entities. You might want to check them out. I found their prices to be most reasonable and the customer service is good too.
You will need a power supply with the BJ controls etc. I used an old “train set” transformer. There is a short “photo Essay” on how I did my installation on my website. Once on site, just push the “How’d You Do That” button and then click on the thumbnail picture of the crossing.
Check them out. What have you got to loose?
Link: http://www.berkshirejunction.com/
Good luck, no matter what system you choose and let us know how you make out.