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There are several ways to connect your reed switches. Reed switch 1 (terminals 6,9) is required for automated
station stops. Reed switch 1 will also trigger the bell (if so desired) via the bell sound trigger output to the sound
board. The whistle reed switch can remain connected to your sound board, in parallel with the RailBoss sound
trigger, and it will operate as normal.
Or, it can be connected as Reed switch 2 (terminals 7,9) and trigger the sound board via the whistle sound trigger.
The advantage here is, the RailBoss has some optional randomization functions, which will only sound the whistle
a certain percentage of the time the reed switch passes over the track magnet. The result? No more repetitive
whistle blowing, lap after lap. It reduces the overall noise, and makes things less predictable.
Movable Magnets
Being able to easily move your
magnets to new track locations
makes it much easier to set up
your station stops, or change
things as the need arises. If
you just place a loose magnet
in between ties, the metal of
the loco may pick it up as it
passes. Glue your magnets to
a strip of styrene as shown.
When placed under the rails,
the magnet will stay in place.
Magnet can be on the left or
right by simply rotating the
strip.
Trouble Shooting Automated Operation
•
Make sure you have enabled station stops from the transmitter (UP on the throttle stick while running).
•
Loco fails to stop after crossing a single decel magnet. Verify proper installation of reed switch and magnet.
•
If the loco fails to reverse after
crossing
two magnets, the magnets are too close together and/or the loco
speed is too fast.
(Hence the need to protect the end of point-to-point track with a bumper or derail).
•
The loco will also fail to reverse if the magnets are too far apart and/or the loco is running too slow. It will
cross the first magnet, but stop prior to the second, and treat it as a station stop.
•
If you can’t get the loco to make a proper intermediate station stop in both directions after making the above
adjustments, it may be due to excessive grade of the track. Intermediate station stops work best with a flat
approach from both directions but should tolerate 3% grades.
•
The location of the station stop changes over time. Magnet locations are only precise for one given speed
setting. As the battery discharges, the loco will slow somewhat, even though the speed setting has not been
changed. This effects the stopping distance after a magnet trigger.
