In order to add some visual elements to our club layout we started installing some signals we already owned. I wired in a tradional Lionel oversized semaphore. It works, but operates erraticaly when passenger trains go over the isolated control track. Also it buzzes. I remember reading somewhere to clean it up by switching it to DC with a bridge and getting rid of the erratic behavior with a capacitor I think. Any feedback you can offer on this. I also put in a scale sized Lionel Banjo crossing signal I bought two years ago but barely used. It worked well then, but after sitting for two years, the motor that controls the swinging of the banjo is also intermittant. Any tips on a clean and lube etc. It operates better if I tip the whole thing slightly towards the back off center. Finally which of the major players makes the closest to scale size crossing gates, crossing crossbucks with bell, banjo with bell etc ? Thanks Dave
Dave,
If you don’t mind a little soldering I would be happy to give you my take on the circuit to help the erratic operation of your semaphore. It fits on a 2x2" circuit board from Radio Shack and uses only 3 components. I’ve been using this circuit for 8 years now and I have them on all of my crossing signals. You will still need to add a bridge rectifier and capacitor to quiet the semaphore; my circuit is for control only. I don’t know how large of a capacitor you would need for the semaphore but I would experiment starting with around 1000 mfd at 50 working volts DC. Maybe another member has done this and can help out with an appropriate value. I can tell you that 2200 mfd is plenty for a 252 crossing gate, and I would expect it to have a much larger coil.
I will let someone else respond to your problem with the banjo signal, as I don’t use them.
There are several brands of scale-sized (or darned close to it) crossing signals out there. Lionel, MTH, and Z-Stuff for Trains all have nice offerings. NJ International has very nice brass crossing signals that are absolutely scale size but, at least in the past, you were on your own to animate them. That may have changed in recent years.
Joel
While i haven’t tried doing a semophore, I did do a DC conversion to a Lionel gateman. This eliminated the jumping in & out from thr intermittenent contact on the insulated rail. Used 1 diode, 1 capacitor(1000 uf @35V). I don’t have any Lionel crossing gates/crossbucks, etc. .
I do have several MTH crossing gates, crossbucks, and crossing signals. They are close to scale, but still are a bit out. the “scale” lighted crossbucks are approx. 16 ft. high, the crossing gates are about 13 scale ft… It’s all a matter of perspective–
Where in the wiring do you put the diode and cap. I’d like to try this. Thanks, Dave
Dave, it’s pretty simple. Remove the cardboard shield on the base. Unsolder the solenoid wire from the lug on the post. Solder the diode to the lug with the band facing away from the lug. Solder the + lead of the capacitor to the banded end of the diode. Solder the solenoid wire to the + lead of the capacitor. Solder a wire of sufficent length to the (–) lead of the capacitor, as this wire will go to the clip that has the lamp wire attached. Then connect the gateman to the track in the usual way. The diode is a 3 amp 50 volt part. Radio shack should still carry them, as well as the 1000uf 35 volt capacitor.
If this isn’t clear, feel free to contact me off forum at my email address.