Controlling Signals with DCS/AIU

Couldn't you just use an AIU ? Wire the signal like an accessory.

Are you referring to Railking 30-11013 where you don't have discrete control of the vertical, diagonal, and horizontal positions?  As described in this recent thread:

 

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...lock-signal-30-11013

 

there is a built-in timer  and you cannot maintain the diagonal signal indefinitely...rather for only 10 seconds before it transitions to vertical/proceed.

 

If that's the issue I'd think you need to open up the signal and wire the 3 positions directly to 3 AIU outputs with each output effecting 1 of the 3 choices. 

 

OTOH, if you don't mind the timed diagonal position, then only 1 AIU accessory output would be required with, using the wire colors in the above link, the black wire going to the AIU common, and the green and red wires going to the "NO" and "NC" terminals for that AIU channel.

Good evening,

thanks for the information!!

 

 Stan, I am aware that the MTH Pennsy 7 light position signal, holding the diagonal position for any period over 10 seconds.

The Z Stuff Pennsy signal works the same way.

 

 It would be nice to be able to control the diagonal position of lights but it's not the end of the world. 

I am not real interested in getting inside the signals and rewiring the signal to eliminate the diagonal timer.

 

After reading Barry's DCS Handbook book (2nd Edition) I thought I could use an AIU and wire the signals the same as a switch.

One position (straight thru) could show the signal in a Vertical Position (Proceed).

The remaining position (turnout) could show the signal in a Horizontal Position (Stop)

 

With the DCS you can name each switch so I could possibly name each signal. 

 

I just wanted some suggestions before I went and laid down the cash for a AIU.

 

The more I think about this it is possible, which will most likely in the end will turn out to be harder than I thought.

 

Thanks again for the suggestions!!!

 

 

In the big scheme of things, once you have committed to (purchased) a DCS/TIU, the AIU is a good value in terms of bang-for-the-buck.  Most turnout switches are activated with momentary pulses to activate coils/solenoids that change a switch position to/from straight or curve.

 

If I understand your application, you want continuous power to the vertical and horizontal circuits so I'd think you want to use a single AIU accessory output with ON-OFF continuous switching though I guess you'd have to decide what makes sense in terms of ON=proceed/vertical and OFF=stop/horizontal..,or the other way around!

 

 

Good evening Stan ,you are exactly right about the switch's

I forgot about this would just be a momentary signal.

 

Using the accessory application I am not sure I follow you.

If I would turn the accessory on the signal can show a certain position.

How am I going to show the opposite position of the signal?

 

This is why I was thinking about using the switch but again you are right this idea will not work the way I was thinking.

 

Maybe the easiest would be some good old fashion 2 or 3 position toggle switch's over by my turnout push buttons.

Can't hardly go wrong with that setup.

 

What's not obvious is each AIU accessory has 3 terminals.  There is a common terminal (labeled "IN").  This terminal is normally connected (via internal relay) to the Normally Closed terminal (labeled "2") when the accessory is Off.  When you turn the accessory On, the common terminal is connected (via internal relay) to the Normally Open terminal (labeled "1").

 

 

The trivial detail I mentioned was deciding which semaphore position corresponds to OFF and which to ON as displayed above the DCS remote's Softkey.  I think maybe the OFF position is the normal case so this should connect the vertical/proceed circuit to common.  Then when you turn the accessory ON the horizontal/stop circuit is connected to common.  And when you turn the accessory OFF, the diagonal circuit will light up for 10 sec before returning to vertical.

 

But to your point, I suppose a manual toggle switch is the easiest method to control the semaphore.

 

As mentioned if you already have the DCS/TIU, adding an AIU is a good value wrt the cost-per-channel given the number of switches/accessories you can now remotely control.  OTOH if you only have or plan to have just this one accessory that you want to remotely control, you could buy an independent remote control on-off system for $5 shipped on eBay - you get a fob remote transmitter and a receiver module with a relay.  And there are versions with additional channels for not much more $.

 

Hello Stan, thanks for the information, i really appreciate it.

I agree the AIU has a lot of capacity for the price.
Currently I have 4 sidings on my main line that I want to be able to control the signals for the trains to take the siding or to proceed.

If i run thru the latest Freight Yard Announcements in my Pennsy Imperial M1A the fireman and engineer are sitting in South Fork PA waiting for a "snapper to be cut in" and for a signal to proceed.

I can go thru this Freight Yard Announcement sequence and throw the signal to proceed right before the engineer says it.

It won't mean much to most visitors but it will be fun for me to get everything just right and make those Freight Yard Sounds mean something.

I think I will proceed with this project once I get a AIU.

I thank you again for all your knowledge on this issue, and again I really appreciate the help!!!!

Hello Stan, I wanted to say thanks for the help with my signals and the suggestion of using a MTH AIU.

 

"Yes I realized we talked about this clear back in September"

 

Finally today I had time to finish up the wiring from the signals to the AIU and programmed the MTH Pennsy 7 light signals into the remote.

 

The AIU works like a champ !!!

 

My next step is to wire and then program some turnouts that I have in the middle section of my layout and are out of reach normally.

This may save a few trips back to the control panel to throw the turnout.

 

Thanks again for the help!!!!

Like they say, "good things come to those who wait"...or was that a Heinz ketchup slogan?

 

And then if you watch too much TV like me,

 

There are some things that money can't buy - like that sensation when you first pressed the remote button and the signal lights actually switched - for everything else, there's MasterCard

Well either way thanks again, appreciate the help !!