Johnny got me thinking about something. In the thread where he was looking for a solution for forgetting to flip turnouts, I got to thinking. I have a couple sidings that I use fairly regularly, and constantly forget to flip it back to the standard operating position either causing a short when a train goes over it in the wrong way, or even a derail from time to time. Frustrating. I am thinking about working on a design for a circuit that will allow you to flip turnouts for sidings for only an allotted amount of time. A timer sort of. When you flip it to use that spur, in case you forget to flip it back this timer will time out and automatically flip it back for you. I think you might be able to accomplish that with an 555 IC timer. Has anyone already done that so I don't have to re-invent the wheel? Or seen something like that?
Sounds to me like it's time to give your conducter a Rule G violation,not start building a solution to his shortcomings.How about just using signals,LOL!!...
If you don't find a solution to your circuit you might want to try lights on the panel. Kalmbach had a book about wiring your model railroad back in the 70s. It had a diagram showing how to put lights on your control panel showing which way the turnout was thrown. They were changed by the same DPDTCO switch used to control the turnout. The circuit must be out there on the web.
I don’t know about a timer bu Circuitron has a solution in their catalog http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/301CAT.pdf You could simply have the train stop if the turnout is not in the correct position shown on page 36 (363 AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP ON A BLIND SIDING Or you can check out this for other ideas. It’s called 340 NON-DERAILING TURNOUT CONTROL on page 35 except that they don’t have a turnout controller for Kato. NEC has a digital for Kato turnouts called the Switch Kat. http://www.ncedcc.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&product_id=60&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 And the Block control http://www.ncedcc.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&product_id=63&category_id=16&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 to monitor the main for oncoming trains, but I don’t have DCC and haven’t figured out how to hook it up.
Simple things... In the real world, forgetting to line back a switch in non-signaled territory can and has gotten people killed... Goes far beyond a specimen cup:tb-err:
funny I read this and then was running with my son on his O scale track and we forgot to switch back the siding and when the engine came from the other way it switch back automatically....don't know how but pretty cool. That technology would fix our problems with forgetting. it's MTH track and switch.
