Train-Tech SS4L Sensor Signals Instruction Manual

The most basic signals are 2 aspect Home (red & green) and Distant (yellow & green). A Distant signal is installed ahead of a home signal to give early warning to the driver of what the next signal is, so if the Distant signal is green he knows the next signal is also green, but if it is showing yellow he knows the next signal will be red. There are also 3 aspect Home-Distant signals with yellow lights as well as the Red & Green which are called Home-Distant, and on high speed main lines there are 4 aspect Outer-Distant signals with red, green and 2 yellow distant lights which give an even earlier indication of the next 2 signals to the train driver. Much of the ‘real’ railways main lines actually use automatic signaling and Sensor Signals work in a very similar way. We cannot cover any real detail of signal planning and operation here, but there are many good books and websites (eg www.signalbox.org) dedicated to the subject. The illustrations in this guide mainly show 4 aspect Sensor Signals, but the same principles apply to all variations of Train-Tech signals.

Firstly you need to choose your location, ideally not on a sharp curve because the optical sensor needs to ‘see’ the train above it and long wheelbase stock like coaches could either knock the signal or miss the sensor if on a curve. Next you need to provide the Sensor Signal with power:

Sliding Signal into the track suitable for DCC layouts only

DCC layouts have power on the tracks all of the time and so Sensor Signals may take their power straight from the track by sliding contact fingers into the slots which some track has for power clips. Note this is only suitable for some track such as Hornby and Bachmann fixed track and a very good connection must be made at all times for reliable operation. Some Peko track also has slots but they are much wider and will need packing to make a solid reliable connection. If in any doubt we recommend wiring directly to the signal – see below.

To fit signal into the track, locate the power clip slots in the track between the rails and the sleepers and, holding the signal BASE, carefully align and slide the signal contact fingers into the slots all the way until the signal stops – the sensor should be close to but not touching the rail! This may be a tight fit so take great care!

Always hold and push the signal by its base, NEVER by the post or head!

Wiring the Signal

Using a sharp pair of wire side cutters or modelling cutters, carefully trim off the fingers exactly along the dotted lines marked  – – – – – on the signal circuit base, taking great care not to touch or damage the small black sensor or any of its wires as this will cause permanent damage to the sensor signal! Carefully solder 2 thin pretimed wires into the holes marked P P on the signal circuit base & drawing, making sure that any loose strands or whiskers of wire do not touch any other contact or component! On DC layouts connect these wires to a 12-16V DC supply and on DCC layouts connect them to the nearest rails, DCC Bus bar or direct to the DCC controller output.

Using a sensor signal on its

As soon as the power is switched on your signal should light green. If it does not light at all check  the power connections thoroughly – see previous page. To test push a wagon or coach past the signal. The sensor should detect it and the signal should change from green to red (or to yellow on a distant signal). Several seconds after the train has passed the signal it will change back to green (via yellow if it is a home-distant type signal). Note that the signal will only change back to green after it has not seen any train over it for several seconds, so if you have a long train it will stay at danger for as long as a train is moving over it. A signal used on its own can only ever work in this way because it does not know how far ahead the train is, but if multiple Sensor Signals are linked together the first signal will stay at danger until a train has cleared the following block and so on through the block sections protected by other sensor signals – see page 4.

 Manual override of a single Sensor Signal

A Mimic Switch is an easy way to override a Sensor Signal and also offers other benefits such as an LED showing the color of the signal and another LED which lights when the train passes the signal, as well as controlling a route indicator etc. Wiring is simple too with just one wire from the signal to the mimic switch and it works on both DC and DCC layouts. (details on a following page)

Using multiple Sensor Signals

Sensor Signals really come into their own when you link several together because they all sequence as a complete block section system automatically! Our examples show 4 aspect signals but different types may be mixed and will all work together, including distant only signals which show yellow when the next signal is red. The example below shows 4 signals linked, although in practice you can run virtually any number of signals connected in this way as long as you have sufficient power to supply them all (each signal needs approximately 0.05A).

Manual override of multiple Sensor Signals

Multiple Sensor Signals can be overridden to show stop / caution in the same way as a single signal can, and because they are linked they also control any distant signals located in front of them to correctly display yellow or double yellow etc.

Route Indicator Signals

Sensor Signals are also available with ‘Feather’ and ‘Theatre’ type route indicators which can be switched on and off using either DCC or a Mimic Switch as shown later. Route indicators advise the train driver which route or platform etc they are going and are often dictated by how points are set.

The Theatre route indicator on your signal can be set to display almost any single character or symbol of your choice; If you lift the Theatre hood you will see that there is a square of 25 (5 x 5) small holes which are lit from behind using a miniature LED built into the signal. Carefully mask the holes you do not want to light from behind using narrow strips of black insulating tape or Blu Tack, Black Tack etc and then replace the hood. When the route is activated light will shine through the unmasked holes and display your character. You could use a pencil on the blank templates below to decide on which holes you need to block to create your own character or symbol.

This is called a ‘dot matrix display’ and is how many theatre and other signs and displays are created on the real railway.

DCC Control of a Signal Route Indicator

Feather or Theatre route indicators can either be on or off and are all controlled in the same way, much like the main signal control. If you are controlling your points using DCC you can give the route the same address so that it lights automatically when the point(s) are set to the selected route. To set the route address, set your chosen accessory address on your controller and then touch the Learn contacts together twice until the feather or theatre flashes. Then send a ▹ / ” Direction or 1 / 2 command from your controller to set the address for your route indicator to be on. (NB: if you want the route to synchronize to a point operation, ensure the same command used also sets the point to that route). More information on the DCC control page 6Note that the signal automatically turns off a route indicator if the signal is at Red.

Using Mimic Switches with Sensor Signals

Mimic Switch Wiring and Functions

SWITCH FUNCTIONS:

1. Route indicator (if fitted on signal)
2. Automatic
3. Manual override – signal stop/caution

CONNECTIONS:

Using DCC to control a Sensor Signal

In addition to using a mimic switch you can use DCC to override a signal and/or control a route indicator. Train-Tech products use a unique system called One-Touch DCC to easily set up any DCC accessory – note you must set controller to DCC Accessory control mode, not loco mode.

To setup your signal for DCC manual override, use a short link of insulated wire to briefly touch together the two hidden ‘Learn’ contacts (see picture) until the signal lights flash, then send a Direction ▹ / ” or a 1 / 2 (depending on the make of your controller) on the accessory address you want to use to manually override your Sensor Signal. The signal will stop flashing and your Automatic signal can now be overridden at any time using the command and address you chose – change it between override / automatic using ▹ / ” or 1 / 2 command on your address. Other Sensor Signals linked to this signal will react correctly too, so for example a distant will display yellow when the following signal is red. Make sure you choose an address which is not used by anything else on your layout!
To set up DCC control of a Feather or Theatre indicator on a Sensor Signal

To setup a signal with a Route Indicator, use a short link of insulated wire to briefly touch together the two hidden ‘Learn’ contacts (see picture) until the signal lights flash, then touch them again and the Route indicator should flash. Send a Direction ▹ / ” or a 1 / 2 (depending on your controller) on the accessory address you want to use to use to turn the Route on. The Route will stop flashing and will now light using the command and address you chose. You can use the same address as a DCC controlled point so that it changes with the point – note that the route indicator always lights with the same ▹ / ” or 1 / 2 you used to set up, so use the same as the point to make them work together.

Detailing your signal

The signal is supplied with a sprue of plastic parts for you to add optional details like ladder, handrails, phone and location board if you wish (as shown on several signal illustrations). These parts are extremely small & fragile, so we recommend using the following to remove and fit them:

We recommend that you first remove ladder and main parts by carefully cutting the thicker supports first – after cutting these they should break away from the other parts by gently ‘rocking’ and you can then trim away the fine supports. Parts may be cut from the supports using a knife on a cutting mat or by using precision cutters – they are available from model shops or from www.dcpexpress.com You will also find that fine nose pliers or tweezers are useful for fitting parts. Parts can be glued in place using model adhesives such as Liquid poly or cyanoacrylate ‘superglue’ etc.

You can use the Location board (the small square sign) to show the DCC address of the signal by cutting out and gluing the number from table printed opposite. The lower sign with a horizontal bar is for a Semi-automatic signal.

You can weather or paint the signal and add scatter material or ballast etc around the base but take care not to cover the Sensor, Learn or contact fingers and never let liquid get into base of the signal as this contains sensitive electronics which will be permanently damaged by moisture

Troubleshooting

• When powered one of the signal lights should always be lit and not flickering. If not and locos run correctly track check signal power connections – if using signal contact fingers for connection check they are clean and tightly fitted between the track sleeper and rail – clean if necessary or consider wiring the signal instead of using slide in fingers. The power connections to every Sensor Signal linked together must be very good and consistent to ensure reliable operation.
• If powering your Sensor Signal from DC it must be a Smooth DC supply between 12 and 16 volts DC maximum – we can recommend the Gaugemaster GMC-WM4 power pack as ideal, being 12 volt Smooth & Regulated DC @1.25A.
• If the signal stays on one colour, not changing as the train passes, check that signal is pushed in around the sleepers and the sensor is close to the rail (but NOT touching!) so that it can ‘see’ the train moving over it and that there is no bright light or sun shining directly onto the sensor to prevent it from working. We do not recommend mounting Sensor Signals on curves because long stock can miss the sensor on outside curves or crash into the signal on inside curves.
• If signal stays on red (or yellow on a distant signal) check you have not sent an override command inadvertently – note that Sensor Signals are set to a Test DCC address at the factory and this might be the same address as something else on your layout, so if in doubt give it your own unique address even if you do not intend using DCC override – see page 6
• If sensing is unreliable on some trains you can add a white label or white paint under the train to improve reflectivity, but it should work with most stock. Do not get the signal wet or cover the sensor with paint or any other scenic material.
• If your signal does not respond to DCC, double check that your controller is in accessory addressing mode (not regular locomotive addressing) to set up & operate (this will be explained in your controllers instructions).
• If these steps fail please contact your supplier or us direct: www.train-tech.com sales@dcpmicro.com 01953 457800

Train Tech overview –

• Signal kits – OO/HO low cost easy to make signals for DC Sensor Signals
  • easy automatic block signaling
  • DCC or DC Smart Lights
  • small effects built in
  • DC/DCC – just 2 wires: Arc welding
• Emergency vehicle
• TV
• Fire effect
• Party disco Automatic Coach Lights – motion – no pickups or wiring: Older Warm White
• Modern Cool White
• Tail Light
• Spark Arc Automatic Tail Lights
  • motion
  • easy, no wires
  • lantern LED:
• Flickering flame oil lamp • Modern Flashing
• Constant light Track Tester
  • quickly tests DC polarity or DCC
  • N-TT-HO-OO SFX+ Sound capsules
  • no wires! – real trains – DC or DCC Steam
• Diesel
• DMU
• Passenger coach
• Shunted stock Buffer Light
  • clip in lights for buffer stops
  • N or OO – DC/DCC LFX Lighting effects
  • DC/DCC – screw terminals
  • with LEDs: Home & Shop lighting
• Welding
• Flashing Effects
• Fire Traffic Lights
  • fully assembled – just connect to DC or DCC Level Crossings – assembled
  • N & OO versions
  • DC / DCC DCC fitted signals – slide in the track
  • easy one touch setup:
• 2 aspect
• 3 aspect
• 4 aspect
• Dual head
• Feathers
• Theatre DCC Point Controllers – easy to connect
• one touch setup DCC Signal Controllers
• easy to connect – one touch setup For Color light signals
• Dipole Semaphore signals LEDs, battery boxes, connectors , switches, tools….

www.Train-Tech.com

See our website, your local model shop or contact us for a free color brochure DCP Micro developments, Bryon Court, Bow Street, Great Ellingham, NR17 1JB, UK Telephone 01953 457800
• email sales@dcpmicro.com
• www.dcpexpress.com

Documents / Resources

Train-Tech SS4L Sensor Signals [pdf] Instruction Manual SS4L Sensor Signals, SS4L, Sensor Signals, Signals

References

• User Manual