Need a simple wiring diagram for a Tomar 2 light Semaphore to be controlled by IRDOT -1. I have the Semaphore connected to a Tortouse now. So the diagram I assume needs to have this connection to work the arm.
Thanks in advance
Harold
A Semaphore only has one lamp, the moving signal arm has colored lenses. The bulb or LED is always on.
Edit:
If you want an IRDOT to operate the Tortoise it would have to have a DPDT relay to reverse the voltage to the Tortoise. If the IRDOT doesn’t have a time delay release the arm will go up and down between the detected activity.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Sorry about that Mel .I was thinking about a Tomar Signal at the same time writing Semaphore. I am actually looking for both for the layout.
Doesn’t the Tortoise have internal switches we could use? I you have a diagrahm for the Tomar it would be great.
Harold
I don’t have knowledge of the Tomar signal but normally there would be a common and a separate wire for each bulb or LED. Black common and a red & green wire.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
what would like to happen based on the tortoise position and the irot?
a semaphore requires a servo, right?
I’m still unclear which type signal he wants the wiring for.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I’m reading a 2 light Tomar and a semaphore
Henry is correct. Right now with the virus we are not going out ( Live in Miami ).My layout is complete so I decided I wanted to take this time to add more signals. I have 5 IRDOT devices that have been laying around. Now would be a good time to put them to use. This is why I would like to get a couple of wiring diagrams.
Stay safe
Harold
Could you explain what you have and what you want to do with each item?
How many of each. What type of detector or detectors do you have?
My Crystal Ball crapped out many years ago.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
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5 IRDOT-1 infra red detectors in the drawer
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! Semaphore connected to a Tortouse and a switch. (Working)
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Will buy 4 Tomar H840 3 light signals
Make the Semafore and signals work when the train roll over the detectors. That is why I need wiring diagrams.
Harold
Controlling the Tortoises by IRDOT won’t be easy. Do the IRDOTs have a relay output or solid state? The Tortoise requires the voltage to be reversed for it to function.
Do the IRDOTs have a delayed release? An IRDOT without a delay could drop out between cars causing the Tortoise to momentarily reverse. More than one IRDOT feeding a single Tortoise won’t work with out some kind of driver between the IRDOTs and the Tortoise.
A track drawing with how you want the signals to operate would help.
Could get complicated.
http://www.azatrax.com/install-800-5520-semaphore.pdf
Mel
If I was using Semaphore signaling I would go with the cheapo servos ($2 off eBay) and an Arduino. Do a Google Search “model railroad servo controlled semaphore”, several good Arduino servo controllers available.
I use three color single head signals on my layout with an Arduino MEGA as a controller. It handles 14 signals, a single MEGA will handle 16 signals with detection inputs without multiplexing . . . . 8 blocks bi-directional.
https://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2017/02/february-3-2017-arduino-mega-signal.html
If you are interested I could help you work up a smaller simpler version for you using a Arduino UNO.
Mel
After reading your last post several times I’m confused again. I looked up the Tomar 840 and it is a Semaphore but you refer to them as 3 light signals???
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
i assume a single signal head is used before a turnout to indicate if the route selected by the turnout is clear using Separate IRDOT-1s on each track the turnout routes to. The Tortoise determines which IRDOT to use to determine the signal indication
i think the challenge is getting the RDOT-1 to control 2 LEDs thru a single connection that can be routed thru an SPDT contact on the tortoise. (A different solution is possible if both SPDT contacts are available)
Under “LED indication”, they show 2 LEDs, but the green one is actually driven thru a resistor to the plus power terminal, 3, and uses the open-collector pin-2 output to turn it off when the circuit is active.
since no resistor is in series with the red LED connected to pin-5, i wonder if pin-5 can also sink current and be used to turn on an LED connect to plus power, pin-3. A voltmeter could confirm this.
links to pages describing the hardware (e.g. Tomar 840) would help
Sorry again. Had that number written on my pad . Correct # are
H-8571 2 Light or H-8561 3 Light
Harold
Using the IRDOT-1
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A DPDT relay will be needed to drive a Tortoise.
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If you angle the emitter and sensor across the track it should not see the gap between the cars and hold the semaphore correctly without a delay.
Without some idea of a track plan showing how you plan to install the IRDOT-1s as well as the length of a typical train I don’t know if you will need a delay timer for the semaphore to work properly.
With out a delay the semaphore will only stay active while the detector is activated.
By using a separate DPDT relay for each Tortoise you could use multiple IRDOT-1s.
Mel
The IRDOT-1 is simply a detector. To drive signals you also need some sort of additional circuitry, including any number of commercial signal drivers that expect to see some sort of detector input (which would be provided by the IRDOT-1). Since the IRDOT-1 is a position detector and only detects when the train passes that specific spot, something likk the Logic Rail Signal Animator could be used. Or the Block Animator - this even has the sensors, you don;t need the IRDOT-1 with the Blockl Animator - and the Block Animator comes in versions for 3 light Tomar signals as well as for semaphores driven by a Tortoise.
–Randy
if the detector provides a standard digital output (not open collector), why can’t it be used to drive a Red or Green signal LED, if that’s all you want?
You can do like their diagram (the one you linked) shows, but it’s going to change back immediately after the train passes. ANd there’s no accounting for a yellow.
Even if you don;t want a full blown prototypical signal system - that’s what the Logic Rail Animators are for - they make a sort of signal system so the lights change in what appears to most people a somewhat realistic fashion even though all it’s doing it sensing the train pass a point and then using timers to change them back, first yellow then green.
–Randy
I agree with Randy, the Logic Rail Animator is the way to go. Super simple and works very realistically.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.