Model Railway Electrics Simply Repetitive

Model Railway electrics are not complicated. They are just repetitive. If you can wire up a single bulb you can do the wiring on your model layout. People see the end product. It appears to be too complicated for them. For example lighting a house on the layout can be done with a single bulb. Ten houses take ten bulbs. The same circuit repeated ten times.

These are Hornby products. The green switch is just on/off. The black one is a two position momentary switch. The yellow one is a change over switch. Always on.
These are Hornby products. The green switch is just on/off. The black one is a two position momentary switch. The yellow one is a change over switch. Always on.

When it comes to signalling and points motors the same thing applies. With signals, instead of an on/off switch you have a changer over switch. Points use a momentary switch. Ideally, points should have a capacitor discharge power supply to prevent accidental burnout. This may sound complicated but units are available. Only one unit is needed. Most modellers don’t worry about interlocking. If you have semaphore signals point motors can be used to operate them.

Some modellers use mechanical means to operate the signals and points. This usually consists of a wire in tube system. Something like the choke in an old car or perhaps your motor mower throttle. I have read about a system like that that actually had interlocking. It worked like the old railway systems used to. The forgoing is included for the purpose of saying there are other methods available.

This is the underside of my DCC layout. One can see the modules and how they connect to the points. Also how the power is connected to the modules.
This is the underside of my DCC layout. One can see the modules and how they connect to the points. Also how the power is connected to the modules.

Letā€™s look at DCC systems. These systems are easier to set up but cost more. They have modules to operate everything. You just connect the module to the closest track. Run the wires a short distance to the accessory and it’s done. These modules need programming before installation. If you have old analogue locos you will need to convert them for DCC operation. DCC requires new DCC controllers and a suitable power supply.

This may not still be available but there should be some modern publications on the subject.
This may not still be available but there should be some modern publications on the subject.

The picture at the right is of a book I highly recommend. It is a bit dated but most of the content is still relevant. Twin-T track detectors are not used any more. There is a circuit for the capacitor discharge pointā€™s machine device. If anyone knows of a newer publication they would like to recommend please leave a comment with the details so others may benefit. Your local news agent may be able to assist.

 

Published by

TitoBill

I am a retired train driver who has 49 years service with QRNational. When I first started there were still steam locomotives running. 1965 saw me qualified as a fireman. Yes. I did fire steam locos. Classification as driver came in 1975 and as a tutor driver in 1995. My retirement came in 2012.

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