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Wiring tail light bulb to detect shorts in powered blocks Track and electrical/DCC
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New member 12 posts gary d New member 12 posts
gary d

I'm new to this and was wondering if someone could explain how to wire a #1156 tail light bulb to detect a short in powered blocks on a layout. Do you use one of the feeder wires from the bus wires to put the bulb in between the bus and track or is it a separate wire from the bus to a rail on the track? What ever wire is used, where do you solder it to on the bulb, the bottom and side or somewhere else? I'm assuming only one wire is used to solder it on the bulb.

Thank you.

Gary D
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Bill Brillinger Moderator 4,904 posts
Bill Brillinger

Check this thread... and TMTV!

The topic is covered in detail here:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/4747

and here:

http://www.trainmasters.tv/videos/3-3-siskiyou-line-dcc-short-management

I believe the diagram on the TMTV page will answer your questions.

The bulb can be mounted under the benchwork.

Bill Brillinger

Modeling the BNML in HO Scale, Admin for the RailPro User Group, and owner of Precision Design Co.
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Kevin Rowbotham Prolific poster 2,336 posts
Kevin Rowbotham

1156 short management

Joe covers this in detail in his clinic, " DCC: The good, the bad and the ugly". See segment four for 1156 short management.

~Kevin

Appreciating Modeling In All Scales but majoring in HO!

Not everybody likes me, luckily not everybody matters.
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gary d New member 12 posts
gary d

1156 short management

Thanks. I guess I'll try and do this. Other articles I've found online never mentioned a 3rd bus wire.
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gary d New member 12 posts
gary d

check this thread.

Thanks for your help. I'm new to DCC and being away from the hobby for 30 years doesn't help.
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gary d New member 12 posts
gary d

short detection

Thanks for the pics. Any help is appreciated. Where did you buy the micro switches? I imagine this would work in place of a toggle switch.
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Ngwpwer Regular poster 147 posts
Ngwpwer

Got them from E-B

Go to flea-bay and enter this -     Push Button Switch 12-CC DC 30V 1A Black on off       at .30 apiece and some shipping time pretty economical.
As far as the wiring, I just put the lead on one side of the switch and continue it off the other side! Not a terminology user, just keep wiring, it either smokes or works. Am color blind so get the wife to arrange colors in paint.
 
detector.bmp 
Happy wiring
RJ
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Retired Alex Regular poster 216 posts
Retired Alex

Tail light bulb to detect shorts in powered blocks

This circuit is used to control a relay to cut power to a shorted power block.

http://ntcrr.ca/electronics/electronic.html

Alex B.

Modeling in HO
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