@SteveG posted:...
Will that Azatrak relay work for a 3 over 3 block signal, MTH 30-11024? It has 2 separate signals and I'm triggering it green to red when a car comes into an isolated track section (2 separate isolated sections).
Also, I want a timer so it stays red for perhaps 5 seconds (eliminate chatter) because I have some short isolated sections and some wheels might get dirty and provide intermittent contact.
The Azatrax relay will work. Like you say, the MTH 30-11024 is 2 separate signals so you'd need two relays...one controlling each signal. But the relay is "just" a relay and does not have a built-in timer to suppress chatter from intermittent contact from dirty wheels/track.
3 options come to mind:
1) GRJ's Insulated Track Signal Driver (ITSD) available from Hennings Trains. This essentially functions like the Azatrax relay but you can add a ~50 cent capacitor to effect a time delay. It is apparently $27 MSRP. This was designed-built for the train market and you can read more than you could ever want to know about it in this 5 year old OGR thread.
2) A generic (i.e., not designed for the train market) relay module that has time-delay capability. There are MANY of these widgets out there. Here's one that I use myself and have recommended on OGR for various and sundry applications. These modules are about $5 each. You need to fuss a bit to "program" them using the buttons on the bottom of the module. They are remarkably capable widgets allowing you to set the time delay to exactly 5.0 seconds (if that's what you want), or 5.1 sec or 4.9 sec, etc. These modules require DC voltage to operate, but this DC voltage can come from just about any DC-output adapter (aka wall-wart) you probably have lying around in the attic/garage.
3) A generic relay module that does is "just" a relay like the Azatrax. Then add some components to effect a timer delay for the application at hand. I have also recommended and shown how to do this in many OGR threads. Generic relay modules are about $1-2 per relay and come in various configurations such as 1, 2, 4, 8, etc. relays. Here's a photo I dug up from a previous OGR thread that shows a 4-relay module with a few components added to effect timer delay for relay chatter suppression on the lower 2 channels. The components are inexpensive- maybe 50 cents to $1 per channel - but obviously requires fussing at the component-level (resistors, capacitors, etc.). Like option 2) these inexpensive relay modules operate on DC voltage.
You will be able to get help with all 3 options here on OGR. And I'm sure there are other Options too.
