True2scale

Train modeling components

Railroad Signal Wiring Procedure

There are eleven steps necessary to wire a layout for signaling.  They are repeated depending on how many blocks are on your layout and  many signals you plan to install.  Although a layout may have many blocks, it is easier to consider each as a separate entity and wire one at a time.

• The first step must be repeated for each block on your layout.
• Steps 2 and 3 will need to be done once for every ten Signal Light Towers you intend to use.
• Steps 4 through 10 must be repeated once for each Signal Light Tower you wish to operate.

1. Connect a Detector circuit into the track feed of each block on your layout.  Use either a working Detector or a dummy Detector in each block to avoid a speedup or a slowdown that will occur when a train crosses from one block to another.  Detectors can be connected into the track feed of either the left or the right rail. Whichever is chose, you need to be consistent around the entire layour. 

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2. Mount a 5 volt Power Regulator under the layout at a location reasonably convenient for wiring to all working Detectors and Signal Control Circuits.
3. Connect the "G" connection of the Power Regulator to all "G" terminals of working Detectors.  (Black wire is recommended).  Often this is most easily done by daisy-chaining wires from Power Regulator to Detector to Detector to Detector... etc.
   Note: The "+5" terminal will be wired later when installing Signal Control Circuits.

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4. Position a Signal Light Tower near the entry of each block that is to have an operating signal.  Face the signal light toward the train that approaches the entry to the block.
5. Mount a Signal Control Circuit under the layout just below each Signal Light Tower.
6. Connect the Red power lead to the "+5" connection of the Power Regulator or daisy-chain a connection to a Signal Control Circuit that already has the power connection.
7. Connect the Black power lead to the "G" connection of the Power Regulator or daisy-chain a connection to a Signal Control Circuit that already has the power connection.

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8. Connect the Red input of the signal control circuit to the detector of the block being entered.  This will activate a Red light (Stop Order) when a train is present in the block being entered.
9. Connect the Yellow input of the signal control circuit to the detector of the block beyond the one being entered.  This will activate a Yellow light (Caution Order) when a train is present in the block beyond the one being entered.

Note:  It is entirely acceptable for several towers to have connections to the "S" terminal of a working detector.  Also, a mix of Red and Yellow wires are acceptable.

1. Optionally, connect the Green input of the signal control circuit to the detector of the block which approaches the signal light tower.  This will cause the tower to remain dark until a train is approaching the tower.  If you wish to have your signals lighted at all times, the Green input should be jumpered to a ground point on the circuit board and permanently soldered.
2. Finally, connect the Common, the Red, the Yellow, and the Green leads of your Signal Light Tower to the corresponding outputs of the Signal Control Circuit.