Good day to everyone! I need some help, and I suspect many others with this product will also, so any and all help will be greeatly appreciated. Here’s the issue. I just purchased the New HO scale signal light’s to put on my layout. I am 100 per cent DCC on layout. All the Atlas instructions are for a traditional DC (analog) layout. 1st let me say that i called atlas friday (today is Sat.) and i have to speak to the person “who Knows” all about this new system next week ( will let all know how i make out)I also went onto Custom Signals webpage (who helped Atlas with this project) and all their info in for “O”. Atlas recomends DC power for the signal system (witch i can do) but as track power is AC on my DCC layout forget about using that source ( they say you can use AC,but strongly suggets DC) So for now,anyone who has experience with this, feel free to help out, as I can’t wait to get this up and going. I saw this syetem last yr at the Springfield Ma show and fell in love with it but now, 1 yr later just getting product out…regards and thanks to all Tom
ok here’s the update. Spoke to Terry at Custom Siganls.com who actually returned my phone call on a Saturday…WOW…and he was a very nice gut too. Anyway he asked me what DCC mfg i use, and after informing him i use NCE he said that NCE makes a ocupancy detector (don’t know if mgf of DCC system has to be same for detector.just keeping it simple) Anyway I was informed that the power to the system does not matter ac or dc…will not effect the LED’s…as it is Sat. night now i will call NCE Monday and let all of you know. Tom
Ok…next update…spoke with “the Man” (Steve) at Atlas yesterday…and was informed that the DCC applicatation would not be difficult…and it should not be…will advise further when all parts recieved. I guess my mistake was to depend on local hobbey shop to know what they are selling…went to 2 LHS and neither new anything about this new product…I have learned that in order to get started installing this system, Atlas does have a ready to go package…with signal control board encluded ( their item# 236 ) which is all you basicly need to get started. Neither hobby shop was aware of this fact.! I have informed them both of this fact! ( is this the hobby shops fault?..or Atlas marketing?) I did learn that each target has to have a signal control board assigned to each one.If you purchase a siganl alone. the SCB is not encluded.Anyway…i’m determined to get this up and going and believe frustratation will be rewarded with nice signal system when all is finished…rgds Tom
it’s great of you to keep us updated on your progress ,thanks !
i think a lot of it is Atlas’s fault , they should have this info on their website , and they should certainly inform their dealers . some blame also falls on the dealer for selling a product they know nothing about
Thanks for this thread and keeping us posted
I’d like to have 2 red/green signals on either side of my tunnel
but not sure what else i need and how to hook it up
i run both DCC and DC controlled by a double throw center off switch
my LHS isn’t much help either
TIA
Hi Andy!..the signals come with 3 light ( green,yellow, and red. ) which would not be a problem for you is u purchase item 236 wich is 1 light signal and a controller. what u would have to purchse is some form of letting the signal know when track is ocupied. if u are useing standard DC(analog) system ATLAS has that for u. If like me u are DCC then thats where a little reserch comes into play. I have ordered 4 ocupancy dectectors from Tony’s Trains made by NCE whic is same system i run so will let u guys know when i get them installed. As to ATLAS. I think that they have done a good job and once product gets even better they will update for DCC ops. regards Tom[:)]
Did Terry at Custom Signals indicate that the NEC BD20 would provide the correct trigger pulse for the Atlas control board, which I assume is similar to the Custom Signals board. Surprised that Atlas has not released a DCC compatible detector board since they make a number of DCC equipped locos and DCC is becoming quite popular.
Gate 5
I e-mailed Terry at Custom Signals and he e-mailed back indicating that the DB-20 will do the job. He is going to be
carrying this unit on his web site in the next several weeks. He was most helpful… I should have a
report next week once I can get my hands on an Atlas SCB board. Hard to find
Dick Foster
Ok! here’s the current update…hope to put this all in plain english…lol
Have installed 3 single target signal lights and they WORK GREAT!!! Purchased the NCE -20 block(read current detector)and after much reading of instructions have them intergrated with atlas signals as follows. We had installed a DC supply terminal under our layout.The Signal control board from atlas intergrates just fine. Hooked up power wire to DC power strip to BD-20. run dictector wire from BD-20 to Atlas SCB. run power from SCB to DC terminal strip. installed signal light to layout…plugged in atlas controller to signal lamp (Atlas does excellent job with this part,basic plug and play) installed isolator to track to have blocks ( or cut rail where track glued down) BD-20 BD was placed on our track feeder wires which we either fed new wire off bus wire of cut and spliced existing feed wire…anyway that’s we’re we are at and i’m thrilled…it’s worth the work…ps. have ordered more Signal control boards from atlas direct and they are BACKORDERED!..ouch ! as i have more lights onhand to install…thanks to all who replyed…regards Tom
Thanks for sharing! This is my next step. I might be emailing you here in the near future for advice! [;)]
The shortage of SCB’s seems to be universal. I found a good source at Franciscan Hobbies in San Francisco. John ordered six boards on Thursday and they were on my door step when I arrived home on Monday from the Bay Area. The BD-20 couldn’t be easier to install. All very straight forward. I am installing a special 12 volt DC feeder all the way around the layout to simplify getting power to the various components.
Gate Five
Had opertunity this past Sunday to talk face to face with " Atlas " @ big Springfield Mass train show ( was great as usual ) regarding their new signal sytem and lack of availability of SCB. Seems Atlas had no idea how ppopular their system would be and now have ordered more SCB’s and he said 6 Months! ouch!..This was a young man, and I have no idea how truse anything he said was…so big grain of salt added. Also got to speak and see NCE’s new SCB which incorporated a dectector for operating in DCC mode and they expect to hav on markert in about 1 month…Tom
Hi:
Is the NEC board compatible with the Atlas signal mast or other types of target signals. The only thing that I have found a problem with is mounting all the SCDs. Looking at Control Signals web site I figure he is mounting everything in on central location and then running signals feeds and detection cirucits out to the various locations thoughout the layout. It might be possible to use CAT5 for this although I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know your progress.
Dick Foster
Hi Dick! when I spoke with NCE about their new control board they were in fact intergrating on their example layout the new Atlas light signals with their controller. Tony’s train had " intergrated Signal System" set up, but they were using another controll system. So to answer you Q.yes the NCE will work with Atlas siganls!..as to my wireing…we ran main DC power wires to individual power strips under table, therefor making runs to each SCB and sinal itself a lot shorter then long run to each pc from main control setup…hope that’s some help…regards Tom
Thanks for the report. Lookin forward to the NEC board. Now if only Atlas would get production up on the two target signals I would be happy. One has to scrounge around the country finding who has any of these signals in stock. I like you idea of running DC to terminal blocks. That is what I finally decided to do. Making home run wiring such as suggested on the Custom Signal web page really makes for a lot of wire and when part of your layout is already covered in scenery it is even more work. So far I like the look but will be trying our some Sunrise signal masts soon.
Dick Foster
I too am going to add the Atlas signal system to my all DCC layout. Just to clarify things, here is an email that I sent to Atlas regarding their signal system and the response.
“I am very impressed with the quality of your N scale signal system and I would like to use it on my layout. However, I am using DCC track power and if I understand correctly, your signal system will only work with DC track power, correct? If so, is it possible to automate the signals with a DCC block occupancy detector, such as the NCE BD-20?”
"Dear Mr. /Ms. Dykstra.
The only thing you need to change to make the Atlas signal system operate on DCC is the block detector. The Atlas block detector for the signal system sometimes gets confused when hooked up to a section of track that is powered by DCC (although it often works correctly). Atlas recommends that you replace the Atlas block detector with a block detector designed for DCC.
So far the only DCC block detector that we (and NCE) have tested with the Atlas signal system is the NCE BD-20; however, I assume that other detectors will also work."
Jim Miller
Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc. and Atlas O, LLC
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
USA
I suppose that Digitrax is not yet in the signalling business then?
Safety Valve:
I guess it depends on what you want to do. Digitrax certainly has a very complete signal system and I am sure that many people are very happy with it. But there are a number of modelers who would like something that is somewhat easier to put together and get the effect of signals. I think that Atlas has done a pretty good job in making this happen. Nothing about signals and electronics comes easily to everyone. Some people are naturally good at electronics and others would like a more simple “plug and play” system. Also computers are more involved with systems like Digitrax, CMRI, ProTrak and other systems. Not all of us want to control our trainworld through computers… some just like to watch trains move around the layout and others want more action or interaction… to each his own.
Just my thoughts
Dick Foster