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Stan, a while back I believe you had posted some information on a truck mounted perf board track spike detector that you had created. From the circuit you posted I recently did up a set of DipTrace, files including gerbers so I can order boards. 

I was thinking that there may be interest amongst others on the forum to have a similar tester of their own, and I would like to post the gerbers, but thought I had better check with you first to make sure that is OK with you; since this is your baby, so to speak? 

Cheers, Rod

 

Last edited by Rod Stewart
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OK Stan, thanks!

So here is a snip of the simple circuit, and a 3D view of the board for reference.

Circuit SnipTrack Spike Detector 3D View

 

Gerber files attached below. The BOM is pretty simple, you can take it off the schematic easily. If any help needed just let me know. The only somewhat unusual components are the two 1N5257B 33V Zener diodes, but there are sources on ebay, and Digikey has them in stock I recall.

This board can easily be mounted on a spare two axle truck as Stan had done, or it can be installed in the roof of a suitable "MOW" type car with only the LED's showing above. One car that it looks like it should work well on is an MTH Jordan Spreader, which has a nice flat cab roof behind the cuplola. But there are lots of other good choices out there I am sure. Instead of the 2 pin Dupont header shown, you can simply hard wire it in of course. 

Rod

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Last edited by Rod Stewart

Well I got around to building one of these, picture below. I have not been able to get the red leds to flicker yet, but I am using a Z-1000 brick for testing, and I am thinking it may have a built in TVS, thus limiting spikes. I'll have to see if I can scare up a conventional transformer, like a 1033 or similar, and see how that fares.

Note I used 5 mm leds, only because I have lots lying around. But you could just as easily use 3 mm ones. This build is for portable use so I connected wires with small alligator clips. The plan is to build another one for permanent mounting in a suitable rail car, as discussed in the opening post.

Thank you Stan for sharing the original circuit with us! 

Spike Detector PIC

Rod

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  • Spike Detector PIC
Last edited by Rod Stewart
kgsouth posted:

Ron or Stan, Is the PCB available?  I can bread board it but the PCB would be better,  I'd like to build up two of these for a large layout Thank's

Hi, I dont have any spare boards for sale, but they can be ordered from OSH Park as grj said, using the gerber files I posted earlier in this topic. Does that work? If you are not comfortable with that I could maybe order a batch of 3 (the minimum OSH Park order quantity) on your behalf, for delivery to your address.

Rod

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