Digitrax and NCE

I got a Christmas present from my  wife of an NCE wireless system last year and it works wonderfully, ...but, now i want to expand the control of my  layout to include block detection and signals.  Well,  NCE doesn't have signal boards and the combination of using BD20 and AIU boards to connect the layout to a computer (Railroad & Co.) for block detection  is very pricey!  I have been  looking at the Digitrax  SE8C/TSMK combination to run signals and found that i don't need a booster - that i can  use a PR3xtra computer connection and it will be stand alone. I've also discovered that with the BDL 168 board to monitor block occupancy I can  connect them to a PR3xtra and it will also run  without a booster.

Here is my  concern and with what i need help. The installation  diagrams for both the BDL 168 and SE8C show wires connecting back to the booster - if i don't have a booster where do i connect these particular leads.

I was also  hoping someone could clarify the BDL 168 for me. In the NCE system you need to use a bunch of BD 20 detectors and an AIU to connect these to the system (and then connected to the computer with the Railroad & Co software). Now, am i understanding correctly, that the BDSL 168 does all that in one board (of course connecting to the computer system through the PR3xtra)?

I hope those experienced engineers out there can  lead me along in the process.

Cost of DCC

Sorry but I can't help as I am not going to use any kind of block detection other than the eyeball.  DC, in general, can get expensive pretty quickly depending on what you want to add to the layout.  As for the use of the NCE equipment, I'd recommend looking at Art Houston's tutorials on YouTube as well as his blog here on MRH.  As I recall, he uses block detection & AIU boards on his layout and has a superb tutorial.  I do not have anyone that I could recommend for Digitrax except a friend in San Antonio that doesn't blog or YouTube but he does have a 2200 sq ft HO layout with everything automated.

Signaling

@Jfsantomauro, you probably need to define more what you want to do with signaling before trying to implement. If you already have the hardware then use the MRH search box in the top right corner and put in BDL168 wiring, SE8C wiring, or a combination of those terms.

If not search on signaling or signals  you'll find lots of results.  You don't need a computer to do signaling, if that is all you want to do, if you want to control trains to the signals then likely you'll need the computer and interface.

Here is a home brew system without a computer, but does use an Arduino and some discrete components.

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/home-made-signal-system-12189654

One of the things to determine is how many blocks you have, yes the BDL168 is cheaper per block than using BD20s, but if you only have 5 blocks...  Another option is to build your own BD20 equivalent:  http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/DccBODvt5.html, also other options for detection at:  http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#Light

Ground Signall arrays

Does anyone know where I can get the miniature led assemblies as shown in  jmt99atsf's blog?? on ground signal 

LED Source

I bought a ton of different LEDs from Electronic Goldmine. They have a variety of products at pretty decent prices, and so far they have all worked (except for the few that I blew up experimenting).  They have power supplies like #G19835 that can power all the switching LED's on your layout for less than $10. Just be sure to use the appropriate size resistors for the LED (this is where some experimenting may be needed, as not all of the products have enough detail in the specs).

Just be careful about overdoing it with the LEDs -- I think I have. They're a lot of fun once you get going . In the dark my layout almost looks like a Christmas tree.

Kurt

Get the assemblies here ...

You can get the assemblies here:

http://www.moreleds.com/nds.htm

Scroll down to see the assembly choices and the add to cart buttons.

LED assemblies

That URL is http://www.led-switch.com/

Thanks for the info.

Jock

Thanks

Thanks a lot for your help, will order some, only problem is shipping costs to the UK are twice the cost of the LED's. Oh Happy Days!!!

UK source

Thinking that is not an unusual item, I googled "led pcb mount uk" and found this:  http://www.leds.co.uk/products/indicators/pcb_mounting_leds  looks to be a supplier/distributor, but you can certainly make inquires and find a local outlet.  I'd also check aliexpress and/or china ebay sources if you don't mind the delivery times.  I'd search on led indicators pcb mount, may have to spell out printed circuit board.

The only problem with these is they won't have the sun-shade like Joe's source does, but you can always cut some polystyrene and make your own.

LED

Could you use the same wiring on the switch for DC operations?

Peco Electrofrog indicator circuit

This circuit can be simplified further by eliminating one of the resistors. Instead of putting the resistors on the powered side of the LEDs, join the two LEDs on the negative side, then connect that join to the frog through a single resistor. This saves a bit of undertable space.

DC vs DCC Wiring

I believe that that the circuit would work just fine with DC. The only issue that may occur is that the DC track power may not be on all of the time like DCC is so you might have to use an external power supply to keep the LEDs on. I use a 1 amp wall wart as the power for the LEDs that use with the manually thrown Blue Point controllers since they are not powered from track power.  Someone more expert in electronics than I am should be able to help.

Circuit Diagram

The center lead of the 3-lead LED Assembly that I used is the negative lead. So can one of the resistors be eliminated??