Click on the contents link to view that specific project or simply scroll down the page
1. Providing power to your track
2. Point motor wiring
3. Stopping at the buffer. (A guide to using diodes directly with the track)
4. An automatic barrier crossing with lights.
5 A capacitor discharge unit.
6. Memory Wire applications (Click here to learn more about this amazing stuff)
7. Using RC model servos

POWERING THE TRACK

Once you have laid your track the whole thing needs to have power supplied to it. If you have a simple oval then this is easy. Each power transformer supplied with a hornby train set has a set of terminals which feed power from the transformer to the track. Hornby track has gaps under the sleepers where power clips or trackside accessories attach (see dia) You can see quite clearly the gaps under the rail.

A simple oval is one thing but a double oval needs a set of jumper leads if you want to run 2 trains simultaneously, as shown in the following diagram The power connecting clips and the link wires must be positioned as shown above with the link wires connecting to the corresponding sockets in each power clip ie. A to A and B to B

POINT MOTOR WIRING

HORNBY
Hornby point motors are the simplest to connect as they already have the needed wiring attached see Fig E1 below. Each motor is comprised of 2 solenoids with a common core which is fixed to the operating pin. The black wire is a common return from both solenoids while the green and red wires are separate feeds. Care should be taken to choose the correct switches for point motors as they can burn out easily. My personal preference is a push to make switch but this method needs 2 switches (see Fig. E2)

Fig E2

Pushing SW1 would activate the top solenoid of the motor throwing the operating pin away from the live solenoid. The change the pin location back, push SW2. If this method of switching is to be used, I have found it easier to construct a control panel and group the points together as a schematic as in fig E3

Hornby recommend the use of their own Off/On/Off switches or a passing contact switch which is wired up as in Fig E4

PECO

Peco point motors look the same as hornby motors except that they do not come with any wires attached and the actual terminals are on different sides and you need to solder power feed wires yourself. (see fig below)

These motors should be wired in the following way

As you can see the common black wire is connected along one side and the green and blue wires join the motor on the opposite side. The following photograph should make things clearer.

Stopping at the buffer
One of the problems of running a multi train layout is that you need 25 pairs of hands to stop collisions ,over runs etc. A major cause of train wrecks is running trains into sidings and they crash into the buffers. This can be rectified quite easily by isolating each siding and soldering a diode across the isolation break. Diodes work by only allowing current to flow one way. When a loco crosses the rail break the diode will not allow current to flow until the polarity -or direction of travel is changed. Once the direction of travel is changed the locomotive can be driven out of the siding and away onto the main line. 

Using model servos
The discontinuation of hornby signal motors has left a bit of a void in the powering of signals, until I came across an article on a web site about using model aircraft servos as point or signal motors.
After a bit of hunting I managed to get 4 miniature servos from EBAY relatively cheaply. Subscribe to the free newsletter to be notified when this particular article is completed

Copyright Notice

Except as otherwise noted within this site, all contents of this site and of my email/Newsletter ,
Copyright © 2006 - 2008 James A Burnet All rights reserved.

Please reference this author and this site for all information you use.

You are visitor Number