The Timesaver shunting puzzle is a classic model railway switching (shunting) game designed by John Allen in the...
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Is it possible to motorise Ratio semaphore signals?
In theory, all Ratio signal kits can be motorised, but the conversion can be a little fiddly.
In truth, it's the construction of the signal itself that's more fiddly. If you have never built a Ratio signal kit before, you should probably try one before investing in expensive motors and switches to motorise it, but be aware there are two types available. These are called 'Quick Assembly' and 'Advanced Construction' kits. The 'Quick Assembly' type comes with a manual mechanism included, so they are easier to attach motors to further down the line.
If you have given it a go and are reasonably confident of your abilities to build a signal that operates smoothly and freely, motorising it is relatively simple and involves attaching a servo motor to the underside of your baseboard and connecting it to the signal's mechanism using rods. Care should be taken to ensure the servo's movement is programmed correctly and won't move the signal arm further than its capabilities as this can cause damage to the signal.
Ratio recommends using their 'SmartSwitch' system to motorise their signals, but any programable servo motor will do the job just fine.
If you're put off trying to motorise Ratio signal kits, you might want to take a look at Dapol's motorised signals that come ready built with motors attached as a solution.
Posted in: Power and control
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