Replacement Relay for a ROW Block Signal?

If you have the signal I think you have it only has 3 wires, red, green and black.  If that is the case you just need a relay that has 5 pins or rather you will only be using 5 pins on a relay that may have more.  One will be NC, one will be NO, one will be power or ground, the other two will be the source that powers the relay.  I have both of my ROW signals functioning off of a DZ-1008 relay but you can use a radio shack micro relay as well.  My MTH block signals are working off of several of those (sorry don't know the part #).  Essentially any relay that works with MTH block signals will work with ROW signals as well.

I think we do have the same signals. Mine has the red, green, and black wires coming from it. I wondered about using a DZ-1008 and it's good to know that they will work. Thanks very much for the help.

Jim

 

If your using a MTH  Signal  it  may have circuit  broad in side . 

Please send  a picture of the Signal Head and post it, so we can see what going on here.

Also post a picture of  the cantilever bridge block signal (six lights on target head) signal too.

Let's see what we can do here with Signals for you Guy's.

Good luck, John  kb2agpjohn@aol.com 

John, I have both, they function the same although the MTH signals amber light stays lite longer during the transition from red to green.  ROW was ahead of the curve when they made these signals, nice details, nice functions, but they work the same as the MTH block signals or cantilever signals.  I swapped out two MTH signals with ROW signals after I was able to pick some up off of the forum, installation was as easy as swapping the connections to the DZ-1008 relay.  There really is nothing complex in either of these items although I really like the look of the ROW signals.

Henry

That's  the way  MTH Signal is designed that way.  

That's their design.

The Circuit Broad is timing the amber a little  longer .

Good luck then. John  

Here are some pictures of the signal with the green, red , and black wires.

Anyway, after a couple of days of grand daddy duty, I'm ready to begin wiring the signal. I have a DPDT relay with an 8 pin socket that I think will work, yes? The socket has terminals numbered 1 - 8. However, I'm an old dog and relays are a new trick so I have  to ask: how do I know which is NO, which is NC, which one is the power/ground, and which ones send power to the signal?

Thanks again for all the help. Jim

What is the part number (where did you get) of your DPDT relay? 

Are you activating the signal with an insulated outer-rail section?

Are you powering the relay and signal with 14V AC Accessory Voltage or from track power?

The DPDT is made by NTE Electronics and is part # R14-11A10-12. The socket is also by NTE Electronics and is part # R95-110.

I intend to use an insulated outer rail and will power the signal using an accessory post from a ZW ... although I could also use track power (MTH Z-4000).

Thanks,

Jim

 

OK.  So for the record, here's the relevant technical info from the NTE website for that relay.  Hookup diagram to follow.

The relay is activated when axle(s) go over the insulated outer-rail section.  This applies the Accessory common or outer-rail to one side of the relay coil (7).  The other side of the relay coil (8) gets constant power from Accessory hot - say 12VAC from your ZW.

When idle, the relay connects the C pin (6) to the NC pin (2).  This applies Accessory Hot power to the Green signal.  When activated the relay instead connects the C pin (6) to the NO pin (4).  This applies Accessory Hot power to the Red signal.

Note that pin (6) and (8) are connected together. 

 

JIM,Question is that Relay energizing when the your train entering the block ? Thanks, John

Thank you very, very much for all your help. I sincerely appreciate it.

I haven't connected the relay, yet, but will do so in the morning and will let you know. Had I tried to do this on my own, I doubt that I would ever have come across this wiring combination.

Thanks again,

Jim

 

Success!! It works great. I wasn't expecting the momentary change from yellow to green (although I should have) and that was a nice surprise.

Again, I really appreciate your help. I couldn't have done it alone.

Jim

Glad it worked out.  Those ROW signals are very well detailed and look great on a layout.