Well I just got these in the mail today and already burned up one - can someone please tell me how to hook these relays up?
What are you trying to do? Drive signals? Are you using isolated-rail block detection with the accessory voltage from a transformer?
Out of curiosity what burned up?
Question - is the relay linked in Stan's post above a direct replacement for the one sold by Scott's Odds n Ends (Train Electrics)?
No. The Train Electrics relay accepts AC or DC input; the eBay relay is a DC device. The Train Electric relay has 15 Amp contacts; the eBay is 10 Amps (albeit I don't think you need 15 Amps for anything to do with signaling). But then the Train Electrics relay is $17.50 while the eBay relays are less than $2 w/ free shipping. Part of the story in this thread is how you might save some $ if you are willing to fiddle with some components to allow the DC-only eBay relay to operate on AC. As shown earlier this AC-to-DC conversion can be done by $1 or so of assorted components like diodes, capacitors, resistors, etc. but soldering and fussing with small parts is not everyone's cup of tea. I was showing how GRJ's LED lighting board could also perform this AC-to-DC conversion. Frankly I wouldn't expect anyone to do this and was more a case of idle curiosity that I tried it.
