Anyone seen a smaller relay/solenoid like this

[collectors]

Hi, i am looking for what might be called a mid/position off relay like the image below & to just pulse for a second when energised via 2 reed switches in the track.


The only thing i can find close to this, is a winch motor solenoid & at 12v 150amp is a bit of overkill even though its only £9.00 in this image below. I have looked at twin coil relays & can't seem to find anything. I just want it to auto operate some points via a couple of track reed switches.

[Brian]

Never seen anything like that before! What do you need it for?
Assumption.... If you want the reed switch/relay combination to operate a solenoid point motor (Pulse of power) then use one relay per reed switch. If you want the relay to remain energised for longer than the reed switches duration add an electrolytic capacitor across the relay coil so as the capacitor charges when the reed switch energises the relay coil and once the reed has opened the capacitor holds the relay energised for a few milliseconds longer than the reed.

[collectors]

Hi Brian, was just looking at alternatives for operating the points on a ballon reversing loop. I have the loop in & all working great with a reversing loop module, just needed a way for the points to auto switch on entry & exit.

[Brian]

Have you considered using Infra Red train detection? No modification to locos needed (No magnets) and the IR LEDs are small and fit into one bay between sleepers! A couple of options...

The Blocksignalling Infra-red Points Controller IRP1 http://www.blocksignalling.co.uk/index. ... ller-irp-1

Or the Heathcote Electronics IRDOT-P (two needed) which includes solenoid point operation. http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/ ... ering.html

Otherwise do as I suggested in post #2 and use two relays with two reed switches, one relay and reed Sw for Normal route and the other reed and relay for Reverse route through the point.

[RAF96]

Have you thought of making the points bash-through with the points biased one way for entering the loop using a light spring or simple string and weight, then the loco bashes through from the other side of the loop.

This is the sort of thing some tram tracks used to have.

[collectors]

Thanks for the replies. Haven't had a lot of luck with IR LED's in the past. So i have the bit between the teeth & i am sure someone makes a smaller version of this winch solenoid. At worst, i could use it. there is plenty of room, just not sure on the thud when it operates. It might sound like the real thing. LOL.

[Brian]

You need to find out the coil current at 12 volts which may be quite high! That would be far from ideal, especially as reed switches are being used for the relay coil operation.

Simply use two separate relays. Cost about £1 to £1.50 each. Then Relay 1 is operated by Reed 1 and Relay 2 by reed 2. Via each relays contacts which are often double pole one set operates the solenoid point motor. Simple to construct and dead cheap really!

[collectors]

You are quite right

[Brian]

Of course!
All you need to do is procure a couple of suitable relays and the reed switches plus of course the magnets for every loco.

[collectors]

Just as a finished update on an auto-reverse loop. Cost around £39.50. Block signaling do one for about £35.00 called REV2 that will do all of this, but i had problems & a friend was similar but not so bad. So i gave up & use this with a magnet under the train & mag pickups in the track with a couple of relays.
I found the normally open mag switches in the picture will work fine & just need a single hole in the track bed, which is slightly easier than reed switches. The REV 1 also sorts out the frog, so no need for anything to sort the frog out. I also found that i could just put the 4 IJ's straight on the points which keeps the loop as large as possible.
You would also quite likely get away with not using the CDU but it will help to slam the points shut one way or the other if there is some cable distance involved. Excuse some of the odd colour codes, but i can't do a bridge with the software i have.