Infrared grade crossing circuits?

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Nick8564

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Sep 3, 2004
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Automatic grade crossing circuits?

Has anyone try to make or know of a site that shows how to make automatic grade crossings circuits? I want the lights on the crossbucks to automaticaly start flashing before the train gets to the crossing and stop after the last car gets a little ways past the crossing, pretty much like the real deal. I also want to try to include a way to wire in a slowmotion switch like a tortoise to pull down a crossing gate when the lights on the crossing start to flash, and go up when they finish. Im pretty good at making circuits and things, so if someone knows of a place to get the diagram of one I would greatly appreciate it. I could probably build them cheaper then buying them. Thanks
 
If you can, get hold of a couple books by Peter Thorne; he has lots of MRR-related circuitry in them, including a grade crossing activator using magnetically-operated reed switches. This is in a red-and-white covered book titled Easy-to-Build Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders. Another one of his books is yellowish on the front, and titled 34 New Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders.
If you enjoy building circuits, there are lots of them in those two books.
 
Nick i did find a site that does have a Crossbuck crossing unit that you might want to look at but can't the site that had the circuits you can build yourself.This may help ( Dallee Electronics).Check it out.
 
i know that tomar industries has a circuit board designed for thier set up they have. it drives the slow motion tortise machine and the grade crossings. if i find info ill copy and send your way. harry
 
Thanks for the information. I have found a a circuit that detect and drives the crossing lights, and a circuit that will lower gates, now if I can find away to combine these two circuits I'll be doing good. Im trying to find a system that I can build myself, becuase I want a lot of these around my layout. Any more information would be greatly welcomed. Thanks.
 
That sounds good. Ill can do either infrared, optical, or current. Optical may be not optional, because I want to be able to run a night. Will it work with DCC? Do you have one of these, or just a thought? Thanks for everyones help. The only reason I rather build is because I probably can do it cheaper. Im a college student, so money is really tight, but I manage to squeeze out some for this hobby( releaves the stress of studying to be an Electrical Engineer, Want to work with the electronics on the real locomotives!!!!).
 
Hey railroader9731, where did you purchase your Tomar system from? Maybe I can buy one to see whats going on and model mine off of that one.
 
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