A CDU is a Capacitor Discharge Unit. It is an electrical component that can be included into a circuit and stores up...
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What is a CDU?Read more -
What options do I have for motorising the waterwheel on a mill or the sails of a windmill?Read moreThere are several options for motorising the waterwheel on a mill or the sails of a windmill on a model railway...
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Can I use a non-digital power clip if my layout is DCC?Read moreWe are used to expecting more from our DCC models, more electrics, more capability and usually more zeros added to...
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Should I replace plastic wheels on wagons with metal alternatives to help longevity and to help avoid derailing?Read moreReplacing plastic wheels on model railway wagons with metal alternatives can help to improve longevity and reduce the...
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Are starter sets a good basis to develop a layout from?Read moreStarter sets can be a great way for novice modellers to begin their journey into model railway or scale modelling....
When and why would a railway modeller use a reed switch?
As a modeller, but not necessarily an electrician, you may have read many 'how to' articles advising the use of a reed switch, but also wondered what they are and what they do.
The quickest way to understand a reed switch is to forget about the 'reed' part to leave you with the simple description 'switch'. When you think of a reed switch in that way, what you can do with one becomes clear - You can use it to turn stuff on or off!
Of course, there are different types of switches, and a reed switch is best described as a 'push to make' switch that's activated by a magnet rather than a finger.
The fact that a reed switch is activated by a magnet gives it huge potential to automate virtually anything on a layout. Attach a magnet to the bottom of your train and every time that train passes a track-mounted reed switch, it will be activated.
If you require a reed switch to permanently switch something, as opposed to sending a short burst of power as the train passes, that too is possible with the use of a relay.
With that in mind, the answer to the original question is that reed switches are used by railway modellers to automate components or accessories by the passing of a train.
Posted in: Model Railway
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