Garden Railway Forum

Actual modelling activities have been slightly curtailed over the last few days due to parenting duties. So a spot of forwards planning has bee taking place with regard to the IP/Essel/PMR loco.

I have sourced a sound module and speed control. But I have decided that the engine needs lights that can be operated independently of motion.

I know you can buy a cheap on-off radio controlled switch but does any one know of a device that will allow the headlights and tail lights to be switched independently? A RC dpdt switch sort of thing. They don't need to work together. What I don't want to do is to wire the lights up via the motor so they go out each time the loco stops.

Any help gratefully received.

Big Jim:107157 wrote: does any one know of a device that will allow the headlights and tail lights to be switched independently? A RC dpdt switch sort of thing. They don't need to work together.

Not sure what you are trying to achieve. Do you want to switch the lights together, but from independent supplies (as with a dpdt swicth) or just turn them on and off independently (two separate spst switches). What is the minimum requirement? Something like

1) Lights both on or both off
2) Light colour when on appropriate to direction of motion (or last direction if stationary)?

Contact Brian Jones:

http://www.brianjones.free-online.co.uk/

Or contact David at deltang, I'm sure he will be able to sort something, he is very helpful

Not sure what you are trying to achieve. Do you want to switch the lights together, but from independent supplies (as with a dpdt swicth) or just turn them on and off independently (two separate spst switches). What is the minimum requirement? Something like

1) Lights both on or both off
2) Light colour when on appropriate to direction of motion (or last direction if stationary)?

Sorry, the old grey matter is working on the slow side at the moment.
What I really want is light colour appropriate to direction of model and last direction when stationary. I don't want the lights out when the engine is sitting idling. I suppose it does not really matter if it is RC or not as long as it works above.

That seems a modest requirement - won't it have been solved before? Try the reference in your other reply for starters.

Otherwise you're looking at something like a set/reset latch to pick up and remember direction automatically off the motor (assuming H-bridge controller), working lamp-drivers appropriate to your lamps and how they change colour; or your suggested r/c dpdt switch to do it by hand, again working appropriate drivers (sounds in that case as if your lamps change colour with direction of current?).

But surely someone has done this already?

steampig:107177 wrote:(sounds in that case as if your lamps change colour with direction of current?).

I assume you're aware that you can get LEDs which will change colour depending on which way the current is flowing through them?

Thanks for the replies folks.
I think I was being needlessly complicated in my desire to radio control everything. There is no need to be able to operate the light or the sound remotely. I think this is a case of the "space pen".
Looking for a complicated solution when a more simple one will do.

MDLR:107181 wrote:I assume you're aware that you can get LEDs which will change colour depending on which way the current is flowing through them?

Lots of them are red/green. There was a guy on German ebay recently with white/red ones (both 3mm and 5mm - excellent for your trains), almost took some into stock, but I diverged from him in aspects of price and the glories of the shipping he deemed necessary. If I'd actually wanted to use them then I might have forked.

A few alternatives...... which have been used in various projects.

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/switches.php, see P69


http://www.instructables.com/id/Convert ... -off-LEDs/


http://www.lutonmodelboat.co.uk/hints/R ... 20Iss3.pdf


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315MHZ-4-Chan ... 0927767882


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Generic-Channel ... B00EQ1V5BW

Also one can use a micro controller, Picaxe or Arduino.

Wow, thanks John, the action electronics modules seem to be what I need.

Well I finally went with Deltang equipment. The web site is quite confusing for a dullard like me but after a few emails I have ordered one of his controllers and receivers. These should allow me to do what I want to do.

Thanks for every ones advice.

Not on topic but found these while looking for something else.

http://www.componentshop.co.uk/5mm-ultr ... -lead.html

They also have a few other colours in stock.

DLRdan:107393 wrote:Not on topic but found these while looking for something else.

http://www.componentshop.co.uk/5mm-ultr ... -lead.html

They also have a few other colours in stock.

That's good value. The last time I wanted some of these I had to order them from the USA and they cost three times as much (including shipping0. Mind you, the chap I bought them from turned out to be originally from Barnsley (unique-leds.com)

Rik