how to automate switches for revering loop

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I have two revering loops and would like the switch to automaticly switch for when the train comes out of it. I am using tortise to control the switch. Hope you can help. Thanks Rod

-- Rodney Grover (rgro58@aol.com), December 12, 2003

Answers

Use two photocell ttain detectors at the frog end of the switch and a flip-flop with an H bridge driver to operate the slo-mo switch motor. When a train approaches the switch, the motor will always be set for that route. Train direction will alternate going into the reversing loop. Place the detectors far enough away from the switch to get the throwbar in motion as the train approaches to avoid derailing sensitive leading trucks. Can easily be done with a dual '555 timer and a couple of CdS photocells. Auxiliary pushbuttons can be added for manual intervention if desired.

See http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#index for circuit ideas. Look also in the files section of the mrrelectronics forum in Yahoo. DonV

-- Don Vollrath (dvollrath@magnetek.com), December 16, 2003.


I have posted a circuit to meet the above requirements. See the files section in the Yahoo mrrelectronics forum.

-- Don Vollrath (dvollrath@magnetek.com), January 05, 2004.

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