Radio Control For Semaphore Signals

ge_rik

ge_rik

British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
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Thanks for this Rik. You must be very dexterous to control the trains with one hand and the signals with the other! :-) Are you thinking of automating the signals in some way?
 
Hi Dave
To make the video I had to be even more octopus-like - which is why the camera work is a bit shaky in places.
Theoretically, I could have it automated - in fact Greg has automated his signalling to some extent. In practice though, it's quite satisfying to swap roles as signalman and engine driver. There should be much more of a leisurely delay between the signaling and the train movements than there is in the video and so, in a normal session, the juggling is a lot less urgent.

Rik
 
ge_rik said:
Hi Dave
To make the video I had to be even more octopus-like - which is why the camera work is a bit shaky in places.
Theoretically, I could have it automated - in fact Greg has automated his signalling to some extent. In practice though, it's quite satisfying to swap roles as signalman and engine driver. There should be much more of a leisurely delay between the signaling and the train movements than there is in the video and so, in a normal session, the juggling is a lot less urgent.

Rik
Click to expand...

Now remind me again... just where is it that the broom goes....?

David
 
ge_rik said:
Just uploaded a blog post showing how I used a cheapo keyfob transmitter to operate my semaphore signals by radio control. Many thanks to Gregh for his help, especially with the bounce procedures for the signal arm.

http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-i-used-picaxe-to-operate-semaphore.html

Rik
Click to expand...

Great stuff Rik.
Without Greg my LGB loco would still be running silent.
Gotta love Picaxe, I have a basic servo crossing program somewhere which I will drag out upon retirement.
 
Ten years ago I constructed twenty signals. I put four of them under radio control but then lost motivation as I couldn't figure out how to do the rest of them efficiently - four signals had to be hard-wired to a central RC receiver powered by 12v at each station. Recently, I came across tiny linear servos, a cheapo RC system and Seeeduino microprocessors which would all operate off a single 3.7v li-ion cell. This means each signal can be self-contained with its own power supply and receiver.

Early days, yet, but I'm pleased with progress so far.



Rik
 
I looked at linear servos as a means of point control on my 00 layout, never worked out how to drive them as I was concerned about the voltage required on a small cheepo servo with no instructions. I guess I should have used my test kit stuff and tried a simple voltage test starting with 1 aa and upping till they worked! Good to see from your vid the power requirement and perhaps the Arduino approach may be the route for my 00 line, just need to figure out how output from my Cobolt lever frame can be fed via the Arduino to power the Linear Servo’d points.
 
Nice work! Those linear servos are nice. Might have to get one and have a go instead of the SG90's.

I like the idea of wireless signals, might have to investigate that at some point too.

My current signalling system is controlled via JMRI with block occupancy sensors - so far in testing it seems to be working well.
 
dunnyrail said:
I looked at linear servos as a means of point control on my 00 layout, never worked out how to drive them as I was concerned about the voltage required on a small cheepo servo with no instructions. I guess I should have used my test kit stuff and tried a simple voltage test starting with 1 aa and upping till they worked! Good to see from your vid the power requirement and perhaps the Arduino approach may be the route for my 00 line, just need to figure out how output from my Cobolt lever frame can be fed via the Arduino to power the Linear Servo’d points.
Click to expand...

Slightly off topic, but the Arduino MoBa Tools should be able to get you up and running fairly quickly there.

The bits that would be useful to you:
This library contains functionality
  • to control up to 16 servos with speed control
  • to implement time functions without use of delay().
  • to debounce and evaluate up to 32 buttons/switches (per instance)
GitHub - MicroBahner/MobaTools: Arduino library for model railroaders

All of my layout controllers run MoBa Tools :)
 
Thanks for that, sounds like a solution with lots of reading!

Here are my 2 Linear Servos that I have thus far ot been able to fully test as the plug on them so small as can be appreciated by the pic below. So they were supplied centre set and with a 3v battery set up managed to move them one way (red to red black to black+/-) but how do I get them to go the other way as a test?
image.jpg
 
You will need something that outputs a PWM control signal for a servo - connecting them reverse polarity will likely end up letting the magic pixies escape.

Something like a RC RX, 'Servo Tester' or an Arduino will be able to create a servo PWM signal.

As for connection, looks like a JST-SH. I'm not sure a SH to JR adaptor exists (couldn't see one on the google) might be easier to chop the connector and replace with a JR.
 
Cobalt6700 said:
You will need something that outputs a PWM control signal for a servo - connecting them reverse polarity will likely end up letting the magic pixies escape.

Something like a RC RX, 'Servo Tester' or an Arduino will be able to create a servo PWM signal.

As for connection, looks like a JST-SH. I'm not sure a SH to JR adaptor exists (couldn't see one on the google) might be easier to chop the connector and replace with a JR.
Click to expand...
Thank I do have a servo tester so will likely chop wires as you suggest.
 
Just be wary of supply voltage if you have 3V servos..

You can get adapter leads, if you would prefer not to chop the connectors off?

PhilP
 
Regarding Arduino. Gregh alerted me to using ChatGPT to create code. You have to be quite specific about what you want it to write so you need some basic knowledge of Arduino d vices, but it's remarkably good at creating the code - complete with comments as to what each instruction does.

For example, here's its code for moving a servo slowly from one end to the other when it receives a 0v trigger on one of its pins.

chatgpt.com

ChatGPT - Arduino Servo Control Code

Shared via ChatGPT
chatgpt.com chatgpt.com

Rik
 
ge_rik said:
Regarding Arduino. Gregh alerted me to using ChatGPT to create code. You have to be quite specific about what you want it to write so you need some basic knowledge of Arduino d vices, but it's remarkably good at creating the code - complete with comments as to what each instruction does.

For example, here's its code for moving a servo slowly from one end to the other when it receives a 0v trigger on one of its pins.

chatgpt.com

ChatGPT - Arduino Servo Control Code

Shared via ChatGPT
chatgpt.com chatgpt.com

Rik
Click to expand...
Gotta love ChatGPT it is a game changer for me.
 
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