| Two-Relay Controller Lighting Examples | NEXT |
Lighted accessories and structures add a lot of appeal to the toy train layout. They are even more eye catching when lights come on as trains move into parts of the layout, cycle on and off, and respond to visitor push buttons.
Three-Rail Innovations' Two-Relay Controller can be connected to turn lights on, or off, as a train passes over one or more track sections, electrical switches are pushed, or to turn lights on and off in a seemingly random fashion.
The 2RC is very capable; we illustrate some of its lighting control possibilities for your layout in following examples. Each described feature can be selected and applied to accomplish your own vision of lighting control.
All the examples use the "Long-ON-Time" feature set to provide relay ON times of 30 to 90 seconds. The "Short-ON-Time" (5 to 25 seconds) and "Relay-ON-One-Time" (3 to 25 seconds) feature sets are also useful for lighting control.
All the lights are shown as bulbs in a screw-in base. Any of these can be a accessory with one or more lights, a light in a building, or a string of lights, perhaps in buildings all across the layout. The only limitation is the eight-ampere capacity of the relay contacts. Most train lights consume about .25 ampere, so 32 light bulbs can be operated with one set of relay contacts.
| Lighting Examples with the Two-Relay Controller |
| Train and Electrical Switch Lighting Control |
| Continuous Cycling, Series Relay Connections |
| Random Lighting Cycling |
| Train and Electrical Switch Lighting Control | INDEX |
The following example is powered by one 12 - 14 fixed voltage accessory transformer for the 2RC board and the lights. An ON/OFF switch allows all lights to be turned off, regardless of relay activity. The outside-rail inputs are powered with 8 - 20 volts AC, which can be track power or a dedicated transformer.
An accessory transformer supplies power to one terminal of all lights and the relay C (common) relay contacts. Strings of lights are connected to the NO (normally open) contacts of each relay. Thus, the lights come on when the relay is ON. Lights can also be connected to the relay NC relay (normally closed) contacts, to be ON when the relay is OFF, and OFF when the relay is ON. Lights can also be connected to both relay contacts, so some go OFF and others turn ON when the relay is ON.
Relay-1 is activated by a train in either of two track blocks or by either of two electrical switches. Any number of isolated outside-rail track blocks can be connected in the manner illustrated. When activated, the lights connected to the relay contacts come on for 30 seconds, stay off for 15 seconds, repeating as long, or when, the train is in the connected track blocks or a switch is thrown. Relay timing can be changed by changing the jumpers. Useful for yard light accessories, beacon lights, or illumination in yard structures.
Relay-2 is activated by any of three electrical switches. The lights connected to the relay contacts come ON for 90 seconds, then stay off for 25 seconds, repeating as long as any of the switches are on. Relay timing can be changed by changing the jumpers. Useful for building illumination, or just about any other lights.
The outside-rail inputs are connected to the isolated track blocks and to three switches through "combining diodes." The Input-1-B and Input-2-B terminals are connected to an 8 - 20 volt transformer that has its other post connected to track common. This could be train center-rail power or a dedicated outside-rail transformer.
Diodes connect the Input-1-A terminal to each isolated track section and two of the switches. Additional diodes connect the Input-2-A terminal to the three switches. One terminal of each switch is connected to track common.
The three switches illustrate different operator controls. Turning ON the Relays 1 & 2 Always ON" switch causes both relays to cycle, regardless of any of the other switches. Turning the "Relay-2 Always ON" switch causes Relay-2 to cycle. The "Relay ON, 1<-- -->2" switch is a center-off, momentary-on type: pushing the handle one way will activate Relay-1, the other way Relay-2. The selected relay will cycle once.
| Continuous Cycling, Series Relay Connections | INDEX |
The next example illustrates continuous relay cycling, using the relay normally closed and normally open contacts to alternately switch lights ON, and using one relay in series to control lights through another relay.
A variable transformer is used to supply power for the lights, so illumination can be changed to accommodate room lighting. An (optional) electrical switch allows lights to be turned off, regardless of relay cycling. Since the variable lighting transformer may be set for a voltage outside the allowed range for the 2RC board, a separate transformer is employed for its power.
Relay-1 timing is set for 30 seconds ON, 15 seconds OFF. Separate lights are connected to the relay NC (normally closed) and NO (normally open) contacts. These lights might be in the upstairs and downstairs of one or more buildings.
The Relay-1 C (common) contact is connected to the NO (normally open) contact of Relay-2. Thus, a light connected to Relay-1 will only be ON when Relay-2 is ON.
Relay-2 timing is set for 90 seconds ON, 25 seconds OFF. A string of lights (street lights and/or building lights) is connected to the relay NO (normally open) contact (in addition to the C (common) contact from Relay-1).
The outside-rail inputs are connected together and to an electrical switch. The Input-1-B and Input-2-B terminals are connected to an 8 - 20 volt transformer that has its other post connected to track common. This could be train center-rail power or a dedicated outside-rail transformer. The Input-1-A and Input-2-A terminals are connected to both outside terminals of the switch. The switch center terminal is connected to track common.
The electrical switch handle is normally in the center, OFF, position. Pushing the handle one way will activate the switch as long as it is held, and it will return to the center when released. Pushing the switch the other way will turn the switch on until the handle is pushed back. Pushing the switch handle one way activates the relays for one cycle. Pushing the handle the other way starts continuous relay cycling, until the switch is returned to its center position.
When activated, Relay-1 will cycle every 45 seconds, 30 seconds ON, 15 seconds OFF. Relay-2 cycles every 115 seconds, 90 seconds ON, 25 seconds OFF. Since these cycle times are not even multiples of each other, the ON-OFF relationship of the relays will change as the cycling progresses.
All the lights will be ON for 90 seconds, OFF for 25 seconds. When the lights are ON, the "downstairs" light will be on for 30 seconds and the "upstairs" light will be on for 15 seconds. Relay-1 will cycle even with Relay-2 OFF, but the lights will remain OFF.
The 2RC's "Long-ON-Time" feature allows cycle times of 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, and 115 seconds; selecting different timings for Relay-1 and Relay-2 can product a great variety of cycling patterns. The "Short- ON-Time" feature can also be used for shorter cycling times.
| Random Lighting Cycling | INDEX |
The next example shows using multiple Two-Relay Controllers, activating relays with the contacts of other relays, chaining relays in a sequence to generate random cycling, and changing the lighting intensity.
Two 2RCs, designated "A" and "B," are powered by one 12 - 14 volt transformer. A variable transformer powers lights and outside-rail inputs. Lights are connected to each relay. One relay is connected so a light is at half-intensity when the relay is OFF, and full intensity when the relay is ON. Relays are activated from the contacts of other relays.
One post of the lighting transformer is connected to one post of each light and to the "B" outside-rail input terminals of both boards. The other post is connected to the C (common) terminal of the four relays. The connections to the C (common) terminals supplies power for the lights and the power to activate outside-rail inputs.
Both 2RC boards are set for the "Long-ON-Time" feature set. Relays are jumpered for timing as follows:
Lights are connected to the outputs of each of the four relays:
Lights may also be connected to the relay NC (normally closed) contacts.
Outside-rail inputs are connected to relay contacts as follows:
A relay is activated whenever the relay connected to its outside-rail input is ON. As the OFF time on a relay cycle completes, the relay remains OFF if the activating relay is OFF, and turns ON again if the activating relay is ON, or when it turns ON.
When the 2RCs are powered up, lights will begin to cycle ON and OFF in a changing pattern. The light connected to 2RC-B, Relay-1 will alternate between half and full intensity.
| LAYOUT LIGHTING TOPICS | |