Sorry if this is a repeat, but when setting up a Superstreets track layout, what is the best way to have the vehicles stop at intersections to let the trains go by and then proceed? thanks…
The same way for two trains. A block signal accessory.
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/74-9835-250.pdf
It is not automatic, maybe you could use a 153c contact in place of the red green buttons. Without an electrical diagram it is hard to guess. The buttons probably just turn the power on and off. With the 153c this would have the opposite effect you want When the train approaches the street section would turn on.
Question is now how to do this automatically?
The 153c is a single pole double throw. So you can power the street with one position and disconnect it when the train passes. With the second throw you can power a stop gate.
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-2714-250.pdf
I forgot one thing you have two separate transformers. The only way to signal one to the other is with a relay.
But, if the 153c does not use track power, then it will work, and power it from the street track transformer. This question is a little more complicated than it appeared to be.
Thanks Dub. The thing I’m still a little fuzzy on is the wiring diagram to get this done automatically (ie: train going by, supersteet vehicle automatically stops and then automatically proceeds when train passes). The block signal with a 153c creates a circuit when the train passes. With one transformer, you need power going to the supersteet track and the insulated crossing where the power is cut when the 153c is activated. This is counter to the function of the 153c where it simply competes the circuit to light the block signal. What am i missing?
Study the electrical diagrams here.
It’s for automatic block control but will work cutting power to superstreets as well. He uses control rails and relays which are much more reliable than contactors. Real simple. The relays he shows are the inexpensive variety with 12 VDC coils like you find at Radio shack. He puts rectifiers at the relay terminals so they work with AC.
Hay John, long time no see. Russ W.
Russ, that you?! Good to see ya ole bud! What’s that you’re driving?
Another approach is to use Relays from Thee Rail Innovations. They really work but the wiring is not easy. I tried to describe my experience on my webpage at
http://www.clandavidsonusa.com/Lionel/Lionelville/Lionelville_SuperStreets.htm
This was for streets crossing but the same would work with track and street intersections. Three Rails website had some great stuff on how to isolate SuperStreets including annotated photos.
Jim
I don’t have a 153c to study.I thought the 153c was a double switch. You can make it one. The lever is forced down from the train. Just make it opposite. Have a metal strip make contact from the top. The train comes and depressed the lever and the connection is broken. A makeshift rig may not be dependable enough for you. In theory it will work.
Here is an easy way to accomplish what you want.
First off, the 153c contactor is a single pole double throw switch, so it will be just what the doctor ordered. We are going to use two 153c contactors. One goes on each side of the intersection. They need to be a track section or two away from the intersection. Now to wire it up. Take a wire from the supply that is powering the SS and connect it to the common terminal of the first 153. From the normaly closed contact on the same contactor run a wire to the common of the second contactor. the normaly closed contact of the second contactor then hooks to the insulated section(s) of the SS stuff.
One thing to remember is that the train needs to be longer than the distance between the two contactors. Now when a train approaches the first contactor, its weight opens the connection feeding the SS (cars stop when they get to the intersection). It remains interrupted as the train crosses the intersection and approaches the second contactor. The power will not return to the SS cars until the train clears the second contactor. This works with the train traveling in either direction.
Now for a bit more pizazz, hook the two normally open contacts of the two contactors together and run a wire from there to crossing light, crossing gaurd or both!!
Someone using a lot of relays with control rails might find it simpler to use a DC supply for them rather than put a rectifier upstream of each individual relay coil. The DC supply can be a separate transformer feeding a bridge rectifier, with the bridge rectifier’s output (not the transformer) connected to the layout common. A power supply intended for HO trains is another possibility.
Here’s a slightly different approach, but it’s perceived success will depend on train length and how quickly you want the vehicle to restart once the train is past. I have done what I describe below to get 2 handcars running on a O31 circle without ever catching one another.
You can isolate both of the common outer rails (if you can figure an easy way to do this with Superstreets, I have not yet tried it in practice) and have a wire for their connection run to an insulated rail (or rails) that will provide the common connection to complete the circuit when any part of the train is present.
In this way, the power to the street is disconnected (via the common) whenever the train is not over the insulated section(s). Therefore this insulated section should be somewhere on the other side of the layout/loop, or if you are going to stick to a particular train, you can calculate how far away the “trigger” section would need to be to safely let the cars start once the train is past.
I hope this was clear enough to make sense.