Engineer-Joe posted:If I could interrupt here for a second?
OK, so I'm following along the best I can. I wish this was in simple English!
Anyways is this going to be made into a kit for purchase? Is there a list of parts I could buy to build my own?
Seems like a simple list but I'd probably get it wrong somewhere. A couple of LM555, resistors, diodes?, 2N3904 x 4? etc.
Notes: I'm running 2 rail and would probably need optical like in Stan's video above? I've read old posts about 2 rail using resistors on wheel sets of rolling stock to trip circuits? I think I'd like to keep it simple and just get something going.
What is that optical sensor you used Stan? or what is meant for the occupancy detector?
I'm modeling the (modern) Northeast area and think maybe I should go with the newest style PTC masts? I see they were installed in our Niagara Falls yard.
I might build my own??
Joe, its been a bit of a process getting this to fruition, but we are just about there. The plan is to put the schematic, the board layout, the gerber files, the BOM, and some User Notes here on the forum, very soon now. RTR12 and I are just finalizing the board layout, now that we have a circuit that seems to work well. This is thanks in no small part to Stan2004!
One nice feature of the current design is that it can be activated by any 2-12 volt ac or dc trigger by means of an opto-isolator. So there is no direct connection to the board circuitry. This would lend itself well to the phototransistor that Stan has shown you.
The board itself can be ordered by anyone using the gerber zip file that will be included. Its all thru-hole construction so most anyone with a soldering station can build it. This particular version will be good for signals using common anode wiring. We have no plans to assemble and sell kits so far as I know.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Rod
