Sometimes when track laying doesn't go as smoothly as planned, you can easily end up with a slight step or jump in...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
Can I file the metal rails on my track?Read more -
Can a DCC ready engine be used on analogue?Read moreDCC ready engines will work perfectly normal on an analogue model railway. In fact, DCC ready locomotives are just...
-
How to connect power across mobile baseboard section?Read moreThere are a number of reasons modellers will need to create a layout in sections, some may desire a transportable...
-
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...
-
How much scenery should you have on a layout?Read moreIf you are planning a model railway layout then you are likely making some crucial decisions, one of which will be...
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
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Single Pole On/Off Switch
Price: £ 10.25Single Pole On/Off Switch Use this to control features such as lighting...
Single Pole Changeover Switch (On/On)
Price: £ 10.25Single Pole Changeover Switch (On/On) Use this to switch power from one...
Related posts
-
Can a "DCC ready" train be used on analogue?Yes, you can use a DCC ready train on your analogue layout. DCC ready just means that the train has been factory... - Is it difficult to fit a DCC decoder in to a DCC ready engine?In theory, it should be easy as the whole idea of being DCC Ready is to simplify the process. The first time I did...
- What is 7/0.2 wire?7/02 wire is a wire made of 7 strands of 0.2mm wire. Stranded wire has the advantage of being flexible while solid...
- Is an N Gauge controller compatible with OO Gauge?Yes, an N Gauge controller is compatible with OO gauge trains. You may have to change the power clip to the track...
- Is stranded wire better than solid wire?In my experience, stranded wire is preferable over solid wire. Stranded wire is more flexible than solid core wire,...