Just got a Tam valley dual frog juicer which I’m using for a reverse loop.
Hooked it up, I couldn’t believe it worked right out of the gate. Anyway, I want to bring an led indicator off the board to my control panel to know when the polarity is reversed. The instructions don’t say anything about external indicators just the ones on the board. Anybody know if there is anyway to do this without modifying the board?
Cowjock
I don’t think there is, and anyway it’s not of much use - the polarity is ALWAYS reversed relative to one of the entrances to the loop.
–Randy
Which model do you have? It seems that the “Advanced Dual frog Juicer” has outputs for remote LEDs.
The holes marked 1A,1B,C,2A,2B are used for indicator LEDs. The resistors for the LEDs are built in to the boards. How to wire these up is covered in the manual.
http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/images/Dual_Frog_Juicer_Manual_v2.1.pdf
External LEDs - You can drive external LEDs with the holes labeled 1A,1B,C,2A,2B. The board has resistors to limit current to the LEDs so don’t worry about burning them out. C is the common and is connected to the LED cathodes (the side with a flat or mark on most LEDs). 1A,1B indicates polarity for frog 1 and 2A,2B for the other frog. Alternatively you can hook a 2-lead dual color LED across 1A-1B or 2A-2B. Swap the A and B leads until the colors are right for your turnout throw.
My Hex Frog juicers do not have pads for remote LEDs.
Good Luck, Ed
I agree with Randy. If the polarity is flipped and, therefore, there is no short, that is all that you need to know.
On my PSX-AR units, the on board LED indicates when the polarity is reversed. Does the Frog Juicer have an on board indicator?
Rich
The hex frog juicers have an LED for each output ont he board. But I still question the point other than to have impressive blinken lights visible. These things are pretty much set it and forget it - if the light comes on, then goes out when you short and loops exit and the train keeps rolling, you’re good. Or in the case of the frog juicer used as, well, a frog juicer - the whole point is that you don’t HAVE to worry about polarity such as when trying to wire up switch machine contacts, the Frog Juicer takes care of it automatically. Light on or light off, it really doesn’t matter. It’s going to change every time you change which way the points face and run through the turnout.
I’ll admit, there was a time when I though having dozens of LEDs on the fascia blinking away as things happened would be cool. Of no use to operating the layout, but cool. I do kind of still want to build a retro 8 bit computer with all the lights - 16 address lights, 8 data lights, 8 each for each register, plus however many for each processor state. Thing is, I could just wire up 40 or so LEDs to an Arduino and have them blink almost at random and regular people would never know the difference.
–Randy
Yeah, Randy, but as you say, it would be cool. [8D]
Rich
I bought a PSX-AR at a show recently and all it wanted to do was to show a short whether it was hooked up or not. I gave up on it, combed through the forums tried everything that was suggested. Don’t know what their return policy is but It does not work. Got a dual frog juicer, couldn’t be happier.
Ed,
You just made my day, I do have the advanced dual frog juicer. Thanks.
Cowjock
Hi, Cowjock
The PSX-AR is supported by Tony’s Train Exchange. I would contact them with your problem. They are very responsive to customers and they may be able to help you out.
https://tonystrains.com/product-category/products/auto_reverser/
Glad you found the info you needed for your Juicer!
Regards, Ed
Hi Ed, I bought 2 dual frog juicers and both were the advanced ones but the instructions that came with them were the former version. Downloaded the new instructions answered all the questions I had. Guess I’ll get in touch with Tonys see if they can sort out what’s going on with the PSX-AR. Thanks for the information. Cowjock
Think “track,” not “board.”
Get a 3-lead bi-color red-green LED. Connect the center lead to the frog through a 1K resistor, and the other leads to the stock rails on either side. As the juicer changes polarity, the LED will change from red to green or vice versa.