Hi All, I have installed crossing gates, the bd4, and the ds64. I got the gates working (after much much tinkering!) My question is regarding the inputs on the ds64. I have the tortoise that controls the gate action wired to the first switch machine output on the ds64. Do I route all of the detection sections I want to use for the crossing into just one of the ds64 inputs? ie. If there are four sections I am using to detect trains, would I wire all 4 of the bd4 outputs into S1 on the ds64? Also, I am using a pair of gate, so would I wire both to one set of led outputs on the ds64? I know I have to set the opsw's as well, but that seems pretty straightforward. Thanks in advance!
Well, I did a lot of experimenting and found that I could activate both the gate arms and the flashers. But, the issue was getting the gates to close again after the train left the detection blocks. This needs logic to work. If you just want flashing lights, the ds64 will do it. While I have been building with the thought of adding a computer in the future, I have decided I don't want to have it now. So I decided to order an Azatrax gate controller, which has its own build in logic. Hope this helps anyone else who was curious about the ds64 in this respect.
I haven't worked through it, but it would seem that you can use the inputs (all 8 of 'em, if you want) to trigger internal route definitions that would activate/deactivate the flashers (on the #1 output), and run the gates on one or more of the other outputs. The key is to close OpSw#15 which will disassociate the outputs from the inputs directly so as to allow the outputs to be controlled by the route definitions instead. The tricky part would be to have sensors placed such that some would always trigger the "activate gates" route , while others would always trigger the "deactivate" route. An example is shown in what was once part of the DS64 AppNote: http://ikm.digitrax.com/questions/491/DS64+-+Sensor+Activated+Exit+Routes
Good idea, but you are right about how complex the sensor arrangement would have to be! Especially with two tracks at the crossing, both with bidirectional traffic.
