D.I.Y. colour light signals

[Neil Robinson]

An inexpensive method from GSM.

 

[nico]

excellent idea Neil,now i know what to do with all those LEDs i bought

 

[MR SPOCK]

excellent idea thanks for remembering to bring it accross, simple smart and very effective,

 

[Neil Robinson]

I have received a request to add the images as, since the demise of GSM, they are no longer visible with the text in the download.
I can't lock the topic whilst doing so as some moderaters have done with other exGSM topics that have been reposted in a similar format to the original, so Ive just added the images (in the order they originally appeared) in the next couple of posts.

 

[Neil Robinson]

And the rest.

 

[The Devonian]

A very neat idea Neil and seemingly cheaply obtained parts plus not too difficult to make. The hard part - for a good many here I am sure - is the lying on the ground part and being able to get upright again. :crying:

 

[Neil Robinson]

When the connector block is on the pen end, how do you position the led inside? I find it almost impossible to do. Unless there are smaller led's?

One of Mike's photos shows him drilling a 3mm hole trough the back for a 3mm LED. I used 5mm leds and cut verticall through the back, prised it open and then closed up the gap and glued it after fitting the leds.

 

[Neil Robinson]

5 x Red LED's, what is the best ones to get.

Code CK39N should be O.K. If you tell the guys at the shop what you want them for i.e. daylight viewing and reasonably similar outputs they should be able to help with alternatives if they haven't got enough in stock.

 

[Neil Robinson]

So where do the wires connect to on an mts setup?

Straight to the nearest piece of track, see the diagrams in the sixth and seventh pictures.
BTW I now think a 2K ohm or greater 2W resistor would be better, provided the light output is adequate. Earlier thinking was based on the RMS value of the voltage and the fact that the leds only light on ac for half the time, flashing on and off too quickly to be noticed. A 2K resistor will protect the led against overcurrent damage even at the peak voltage.

I have motorised points if that makes any difference.

You could use an auxiliary switch on the point motor as the switch in the diagram and set the signals automatically.

 

[C&S]

What a neat idea. Many congratulations, Neil. May I suggest one little addition - they would look even better with a "sighting board" or "back-light-blocker" or whatever the purpose is of the flat plate usually surrounding a railway signal's lamp lens. Either the type with rounded ends or the oblong-with-the-corners-off ones, though the later would be easier to make. You'd just need a piece of thin sheet drilled out to slip over the lamp housings, so it shouldn't affect the wiring at all. Just a thought; please don't take it as criticism.