Ok, here is what I have: A model power 2 light railroad signal(Red, Green), which has 3 wires coming out of it. 2 go to a switch box, that has 3 settings, top middle bottom. Top and bottom light up the colors, middle is off. I also have an isolated ( by an electric turnout) section of track. I wired it into the track power, and now when I give the track some juice, the light goes on the signal (Duh). What I want to happen is this: You turn the signal to green, the isolated track section is active, you turn it red, its off. Can that be done? I think I realize wiring it into the track is wrong, since the light come on when juice is applied, so maybe it has to be wired into tthe accessories, which means it cant be done? HALP!! V
It can be done, but you will need a relay or an electronic circuit to activate the signal. That's not my field of expertise, but I'm sure someone here can tell you what to buy or build to make this work. :embarassed:
Sure. The main component is a DPDT switch, and the other is a 12V relay. There are two sides to the DPDT switch (three lugs in two lines), and each side is already electrically isolated for you. One threesome will be used to disrupt one feeder to your track. That's the easy part to figure out, IN on the center lug, OUT on one or the other side (depending on whichaway you want your toggle to throw for "off"). The other threesome will be used to energize a relay coil. The coil input is from a 12V power supply, probably Radio Shack stuff, off the remaining lug threesome. It's the same on-off wiring of the toggle as the track feeder. Now you have a relay that goes on and off the same as your track (if not, reverse the relay power). Contacts on the relay are independant of the coil (think of it as a remote toggle switch). The relay is DPDT also, X hitched so that you can reverse polarity on another 12V line carryng the power from the 12V supply to the signals. Knit one, perl two. Let me know if you need a diagram, I can try something...
