Girder bridges are good choices for river crossings for a number of reasons. Firstly, they offer great strength and...
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Should I use a girder bridge for a river crossing?Read more -
What are my options for motorising a level crossing on my layout ?Read moreMotorising a level crossing can add a realistic touch to the operation of a layout. There are several options...
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What is AWS in railways?Read moreAWS stands for Automatic Warning system. It's a device fitted to British trains since the 1950s to warn drivers that...
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What advantages would a slower-acting point motor offer to my layout ?Read moreWhen it comes to model railways, the choice of point motors can greatly impact the performance and realism of a...
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How do I set couplings to the correct height?Read moreSetting your couplings to the correct height is more important than you might think. If the height difference between...
Which switch do I need for a three-aspect analogue colour light signal?
Most toggle or lever switches used on a model railway feature just two positions. A type called an SPDT switch (on/on switch) is ideal for operating a two-aspect colour light signal as the two positions of the switch can be used to select between red or green. But what about three-aspect colour light signals?
Traditional toggle switches can still be used to operate three-aspect colour light signals, but you will need two of them per signal. In this circumstance, the first switch can be used to select between red and sending power to the second switch, we'll call that position 'proceed'. The second switch would therefore only receive power when the first switch is set to proceed. The second switch's two terminals can then be used to select between yellow and green. It's by no means a perfect system, but it does prove that it can be done.
A more traditional way of controlling three and even four-aspect colour light signals is with the use of a rotary switch. Rotary switches can possess an almost infinite number of positions, meaning it doesn't matter how many aspects (or combinations of) your signal has, there is always a switch out there to facilitate.
Rotary switches needn't be feared if you have never used one before. Their principle is exactly the same as a toggle switch with a power in terminal and multiple power out terminals, there's just a lot more of them, that's all.
Posted in: Power and control
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