Ok I don’t have transponders and I’m not even close to adding transponding to my layout. However I want to put either crossing gates and/or flashers on the crossings. Well at least one of them. How would I be able to do this without transponding? I still have to purchase the stationary decoders for the switch motors I have first.
You could use block occupancy or IR detection such as that sold by Azatrax. With the newer SMD sized IR emitters and detectors, you can easily embed them between the track ties and be basically invisible
Kevin I recently finished a grade crossing using the Azatrax product for detection and am very happy with the results. My sensors were T3 sized and I was able to hide them in the scenery. Links to my blog posts related to this installation: http://palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-first-arduino-project-grade-crossing.html http://palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/2018/01/experimenting-with-infrared-detection.html
Thanks for the links l will check it out. Reading the info on the azaleas site is quite interesting. My set up is a little different than normal so I’m trying to figure out what I need. This is what the crossing looks like.
Wow, if I am right and I figured this out correctly. Then this is going to cost me $240. My wife is going to kill me...
Will the gates protect all three tracks, or are you looking for individual gates? If for all three, you can wire multiple pairs of sensors to the same input of the Azatrax board, I’m pretty sure. Then just space the sets out along the different branches. For individual gates, it will be a bit trickier, since you will need some method to figure out which route the train is going to follow. Maybe the IR sensor into an Arduino that also knows the status of each switch. Here are some links to the SMD sized components Phototransistor: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kingbright/APT2012P3BT/?qs=f499HRGa1RnBiCNbFylBRQ== IR LED: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...lmpEf2aPtMrMaxShshqm/YK7rxdqlFFtqpO60f7tifQ==
I was planning on just two gates (one set) to protect all three tracks. It will be nice to be able to connect multiple sensors into one output.
Ive contacted Azatrax direct and they are assisting me. They sent me a link showing how to connect two set of sensors to one out put. http://www.azatrax.com/two-ir-sensors.html I also sent them pics of my crossing. My crossing is definitely what you would call conventional at all. Thanks again for everyone’s help on this. I really do appreciate this. As close to the wall the back track is I might just have to do flashers even though I really like the idea of gates.
I've successfully used an arduino, LEDS on hand, several IR sensors to activate crossings in both HO Scale and Nscale.... I've also coupled it with several manufacturers gates including walthers, lifelike, atlas, nj international, kato etc. Works very well. It does not have to break the budget. If anyone needs help I can assist.
