Hornby points and Lights

[airfix27ra]

Hi everyone, hope you are all safe and well.
First a bit of history.
When I started to build my current and first layout, I made loads of mistakes, the main one being not
fitting point motors. I am now rectifying that, what an effort, having to work on my back under the
baseboards, but I have almost finished, with just six to go out of twenty seven.
Years ago I brought a couple of CR Signals kits. two aspect junction ones. Now I have just been looking
at the instructions, boy do they look difficult, has anyone built any of these and if so, any tips?

Is it possible to operate these lights from a Hornby point motor, or will I need to purchase a switch of some sort?
Re the advice from RAF96, would I need to remove all my loco's from the track? Plus how do I find CV1?
I really don't understand DCC much, I only used it because I believed the hype about being able to run the
layout on two wires. Ho Hum. I can just about manage to put a number on a loco and everything else I leave
as factory settings.

[Brian]

HI
CV1 is the locos decoder address number and most DCC systems do not require the user to input this CV number, it is normally done by the system automatically upon entering the address option.

To operate any accessory - Signals or point motors etc you will need an Accessory decoder to interface between the DCC and the item to be operated. The output of the decoder will need to be either pulse (for solenoid point motors) or continuous for such items as signals etc.

Of course if you wish to operate these accessories by conventional methods then this can be done by using a totally separate power supply and a operating method from the DCC system

[airfix27ra]

Hi Brian.
Thanks, I only use DCC for loco control My points and a couple of RTR signal lights are all analogue controlled.
The points by stud and probe and the two lights by a switch. If I understand you correctly, if I wish to get the
two junction light sets (if I can get them built) to work automatically when I switch the point, I will have to DCC this operation, with
an accessory decoder?

[Brian]

Hi
No its not necessary to use DCC, you can use conventional analogue means.
You can switch the aspects and the Junction indicator - assuming you're using these? Use rotary switches or by the movement of the point motor itself. As they are solenoid motors consider the Gaugemaster GM500 (Not the GM500D which is for use with DCC accessory decoders) The GM500 taps off the three wires going to the motor and latches itself one way or the other and via two sets of change over contacts the signal aspects can be operated or you could have two operating at once or one GM500 can feed other relays which in turn gives then even more contacts.

[airfix27ra]

Hi Brian

Excellent advice, right that's the way to go.
Mind you I'm not quite sure what a junction indicator is, I will just be using the light signal.

Thanks
Stuart

[Brian]

Hi
A Junction Indicator (Sometimes called a Route Indicator or Feather) is a group of five white light usually mounted on top of the main colour lights signal head. Note older signalling used three white lights while ultra modern signalling use an LED strip of white. When illuminated they indicate to the approaching train driver that the route the train is taking is diverging from the main line. In real life they can be one of six positions. But unless you're having signals hand made by a specialist those readily available from Eckon and Train-Tech etc are to the upper left or upper right, known as Position 1 (left) or Position 4 (right). An example is shown here... http://www.train-tech.com/index.php/sig ... dc-signals
This video shows some real UK railway signalling and how its operated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4q3i5aw6XQ