Colour light signals

[NICK C]

Colour light signals (updated)

hello friends,

I recently embarked on a new project for my N scale layout, installing and operating colour light signals.
I bought all my components from "patronics", specialists in colour light signals.
The switch that the company suggested that i should use with their signals was the DPDT (double pole, double throw)switch.
As soon as the switch's arrived i was confused, there were six connections on the bottom of each switch.
I read throagh all books i had on hand remotely involved with electronics looking for a plan or diagram explaining how the DPDT switch worked but to no result!

I would be most gratefull if anyone has any plans or diagrams showing how to wire up a DPDT switch or can help in any way with my project.

NICK C

Ps. thankyou for all your helpful advice and help on wiring up the DPDT switch, however i have just remembered that my 2 aspect colour light signals only have 2 wires!, does this complicate the wiring to the switch?, if it does could you please help me by explaining a possible wiring plan?

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Nick there is more than one way to wire em'. If your signals are 2 color try this: the hot and the ground to the center 2 terminals then the 2 leads for one color on one side and the 2 for the other color on the other side. Put the positive for all 3 on the top, neg. on the bottom. That's how I use DPDT's for running my trains and it works so far

 

[Vic]

Nick, Not to complicate things further but like Tyson said there are several ways to wire a DPDT toggle. If you feed + and - to the two center terminals it will feed the end terminals as selected by the direction of the toggle BUT... it will be opposite from what you think it ought to be due to the internal connections in the switch. The solution is not to change the wires. Just leave enough slack in them so you can rotate the whole switch in its mounting hole to achive the throw directions you want.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

As usual Vic is correct. Due to my advancing senility I forgot to mention that .

 

[Vic]

Hi Tyson, Nope...not always correct Sometimes I get close but that only counts when playing horse shoes or throwing hand grenades!!!

The doctor here at "the asylum" changed my meds and I do seem to be having some clearer moments

I'll have my doctor call your doctor!!! LOL LMAO!!!

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Nick could you post a picture of one of the signals?

 

[Vic]

Hi Nick, I'm confused as "all get out" (that's nothing new )

You say that the signal has two colors but only two wires. Could you possibly post a picture of the thing? Is the signal light itself a bi-polar led??? or does it have two bulbs or leds.???

Sounds like the DPDT toggle needs to be wired like a reversing switch and a 560 ohm resistor needs to be put in the line ahead of the switch if its a bi polar led, but I need to see the thing to know for sure.

Any thoughts Tyson???? My "afternoon pill" has worn off!!!!

 

[Tyson Rayles]

Nope got me also.