IR (infrared) Sensors - Electricity for Model Railroads

[@nscalestation]

Great presentation Dale, I have a number of Azatrax products on my layout and have been quite happy with them. I use them to control reversing loop turnouts, for automation in a staging yard, for simple occupancy detection, and to control grade crossing signals. Most of these are across the track setups with the grade crossing being in the reflective mode. All have been extremely reliable with the only issue being some false triggers on the grade crossing because I have white Ikea cabinets about 20 inches above the layout. I solved this by attaching a sheet of black foam to the bottom of the cabinets.

[@amyreynolds3619]

How about photo cells with reflector to turn off a line when block.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. Next video. That one works for detecting people too

[@garyacker7388]

I'm always interested and learning as I enjoy your posts. 😊

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again 😊. Thanks!!!!

[@amyreynolds3619]

Photo cell are small too.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. Upcoming video. 🚂🚂🚀👍

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Dale, you are a great teacher. Easy to understand tutorial

[@ToyManTelevision]

I appreciate that! Really. Thanks 😊😊😊🚀

[@jacko9759]

Just a note about crossings. The lights and gates are activated 38 seconds before and after the trains passed adjusting for speed according to the railroad safety system.

[@royreynolds108]

The minimum time requirement is 20 seconds at prevailing time table speed before the train gets to the crossing.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I triggered one once! I was desperate to figure out how the things work and there was some abandoned tracks near a nearby oil refinery. So I took some jumper wires and set them across the tracks. Nothing. So I moved further up the track and tried it again still nothing further up the track getting further away from the signal nothing I could see the insulators in the rails so I tried going to point well back from the crossing where I could see the insulators put my Jumperbefore the insulator and then moved it up to the insulator and ding, ding, ding ding!

[@BCSchmerker]

@jacko9759 *The sender-receiver pairs should be located every five feet along the track, as ye want to follow regulation.* The undersides of all locomotives and rolling stock should be mirrored so that the sensors pick them up consistently.

[@stevemellin5806]

If you where my teacher back in the day . I would never ditch class. Ha great video

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi!! Thanks. They did anyway. But not often.

[@farmerdave7965]

I use lots of I/R sensors. Thy are wonderful for point detection.

[@loispadgett6306]

Thank you for this one will watch it more than once to understand. One day will have to try this. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hello! Thanks. Bless you too!

[@Dawsonsrailfanadventures74]

I always enjoy your stuff i run DC and DCC but i may used the infared idea for my signals to turn red

[@ToyManTelevision]

I think is the best way. I’ve planned one crossing. Perhaps two. But this is how I’m planning to go about it.

[@Santafefrank]

Thanks 😊

[@MygrandpasTrain]

I need to find one that will work with the old American Flyer crossing gate and other solenoid accessories. For now I just use the old pressure track switches.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Whatever works! But I’m sure it would be an easy conversion

[@royreynolds108]

When using an IR sender and a receiver for detection, they should be arranged so that the gap between cars of a train do not allow for a clear and seeable path to clear the circuit. Something like a 45* angle and not over or under the bodies of the cars.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I never thought of that! Good point

[@BCSchmerker]

+ToyMan *Concerning surveillance, I'd rather put an infrared LED array separately from the security camera.* For train scales, I'm going by your recommendation of an infrared LED and photodiode in parallel; mirrors can be mounted on the undersides of all locomotives and cars.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again!! Thanks.

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Great vidio, like how you explained the ir , im thinking of getting a steamengine with ir tender coupler but im not sure if it works in the sun / shadow world of my Yardlayout.? Thanks for the morning coffee...

[@kenshores9900]

What about us N scalers? I like the idea of IR sensors. Another thing you could do is a double dog bone with 15 degrees junctions. Half baked idea (probably). By the way a EE degree from MIT is not what it used to be to be. Good video Dale. Oh by the way whose layout was that that had the refinery back drop?

[@pbyfr]

I tried to use the cheap Chinese IR sensor on my N scale layout, but I put them horizontally across two tracks. It didn't work correctly as it is, and also not with the LED on one side and receptor on the other. Maybe from below it would be better, but I didn't want these big LED in the middle of my Kato tracks. Then I got a few TOF (Time Of Flight) sensors, which is a laser distance sensor, and it works a lot better (but it need some Arduino programming). If I wanted to buy a finished product, I would try the TrainSpotter of Iowa Scaled Engineering, as it use an advanced integrated (and tiny) IR sensor, and not just simple LEDs.

[@ToyManTelevision]

@@pbyfrthanks!!! Good information 😊

[@ToyManTelevision]

That is verl fosnights. I thought I Put a link… I’ll grab that.

[@ToyManTelevision]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5bCm2eDg8uSZ8Usi=hwZp1m7O0Aw_9OHQ

[@kenshores9900]

@@pbyfr Thanks. I’m so cheap I would have tried that.