Finialy!! Signals are in place and working just like they are suppose too, at least the first signal plant. After reading JMRI over and over, just to walk away and scratch my head so many times. I found alot of it I didnt need and once I figured it out (two weeks later), and carefully studied the SE8c manual, I was able to get the signals up amd running on the layout and on the computer. Nice!! Last time I was having an issue with the inputs on the SE8c. Well I have learned not to hook them up to a BDL168 ( LED outputs, to signal sensor input), which caused me hours of troubleshooting a loconet shutdown and the Digitrax support team was of no help. Also I tried to get positive turnout feedback through the sensor input from the aux.switchs on the bottom of the tortise switch machine with a separate 12 volt feed. When activated the Loconet monitor read that the input was going on and off very quickly. only when activated. Not sure if thats normal (again Digitrax was no help) I just decided its not worth the trouble. I decided to depart from searchlight signals on the first four plants (SE8c is set up in two sections of four, on the type of signal and LED orintation) to make troubleshooting a little easier. I found that I had to swap the anode and cathode orintation on the op switch to get the signals I bought to work right, and the next three will need to be built the same way. Single LED with red/ green lights were making it hard to troubleshoot because I couldnt get the yellow aspect to work right, then I found the LED anode/ cathode orintation was different on the new LED. The three light position signal, (not protype for the area Im modeling could be plausible, with the layouts story) were easy to trouble shoot and to verify that all the aspects were working as planned. Plus searchlight signals are wired differently than three position lights, on the board. JMRI made it east to set up logic for the lights and gave me room to experment with diiferent inputs on the table to see the different outcomes. Placing the signals on layout editor was pretty easy and indicated exactly what was happening on the layout. Shoot...I was reading about mast and routing for signals..and it was confusing. But the simple logic was all I needed for my layouts signals to work. Not being a computer guru, I was happy with simple, automatic logic, where you enter the occupancy detectors, and the switch being signaled (if you want) and the aspects desired. Now ...off to build more signals and install the rest of the signal plants......
About what I'm doing. It's sure fun when all lights works. Running Train Controller software and all signals are handled by LDT decoders with softare for Swedish lights. All signals in the station are now done. Three more to install. Lot's of thinking since TC donät handle more than 2 addresses per signal. To controll the most complex signal I need four addresses. This can be done with a bit of logic and lots of thinking Anyway, it's nice to have some lights working.
