I've been eyeballing the kadee. I think I'll try out both the Kadee and Kato - depending on what Rapido says about whether their's will work for n scale. My preference would be no hand uncoupling, too fiddly, but probably too much to hope for.
I bought a package of the Rix 628-0024 N Scale uncoupling tool at a hobby shop, but haven't had a chance to test it yet. It looks simple and is certainly low tech. I too would rather avoid lifting car ends to uncouple. https://rixproducts.com/product/rix-pick-uncoupling-tool-n-scale/
Just got a package of them as well, and ditto re: a chance to test. Not sure I like the short length. I've seen people taping small led flashlights to the shaft. I haven't tried it, but more light would definitely help. I just heard back from rapido and they haven't tested theirs in N scale, but he thought it should work. I'm going to get one to test for sure.
Good morning. I'm doing my Sat. morning of tea in bed with my laptop and railroad planning/reading. Life is most excellent. I've ordered the Rapido HO electromagnetic uncoupler so should be testing it next week. You could only see a portion of it on the right of the layout I posted. I'm doing a coal mine there. I'm going to post a new thread about the coal mine. Given you're atavar name, hope you have some input!
I just built my final test circuit and verified that everything should work, and with the toggle position, LED color and turnout position all working in unison. Because I decided to relocate the capacitors to the turnout locations to save space within the control panel, I wanted to test things one last time before I order the various components. Normal Route Indication: Diverting Route Indication:
Nice. you are using a two colour LED, or two different ones? Haven't wired a two colour... Just received the resistance soldering kit, and the rapido remote uncoupler. Now, which to go with first...
I decided to use two LEDs, one green and one yellow. I tested a dual color LED using the same 2.2K Ohm resistor I employed in my above circuit and it was blindingly bright. I'm not sure if it was the result of the particular LED I ordered or if I should have experimented with higher resistances, but the separate green and yellow LEDs I bought produce a rich and nicely diffused color and I moved ahead with them. In retrospect, I probably should have experimented more with the dual color LEDs, as I could have simplified my control panel and circuit. Keep us posted on your recent acquisitions!
If mounted so the yellow is offset from the green in the same direction as the turnout, gives additional visual confirmation...
When I'm done with the turnout panel, I might research some basic block occupancy detectors for my (DC) block control panel that use motor current draw to determine. Could be interesting. I guess with DCC there's little point in this feature, though I guess it would be helpful to avoid crashes with other trains.
well, I know the switch is on the fascia, but I would think there is a (slight) usability improvement with two lights rather than one - esp. initially I suppose. (coming to think of it, would help someone that is colour blind too). We are very tuned to notice movement, less so colour changes. With each switch you have to figure out what position does green indicate. If green is on the bottom for a turnout that is switch to the near track, and yellow at the top for the other, then we'll notice the movement and have confirmation of which track. Slight, as I say...
That's an interesting aspect I hadn't thought of. I suppose that my bat-handled toggle switches will serve as physical indicators of position to support the visual aspect of the two LEDs. Thinking of ergonomics again, I'm making the right panel my turnout panel. I'm right-handed and turnouts will be worked far more than the block controls which will reside on the left panel. The PRRs position light signals were designed with your thoughts in mind and advanced by the B&O to provide the extra safety margin of colored position light signals.
