background image

L

OGIC

TECHNOLOGIES

R

AIL

"Sophisticated

Model Railroad
Electronics"

TM

 

21175 Tomball Pkwy                Phone: (281) 251-5813 
Suite 287                                    email: [email protected] 
Houston, TX 77070                   http://www.logicrailtech.com 

 

Block Animator/2

 - 

SBCA

 

Instructions 

Use with Tomar Semaphore motors, signals 
with bulbs and common anode LED position 
light signals (covers versions BA/2-SBCA, BA/2-
SBCA-IR and BA/2-SBCA-X)

 

Revised 9/27/2020

 

 

Getting started 

Thank you for purchasing a

 Logic Rail Technologies

 product!  Please familiarize yourself with all the instructions prior to 

installing this board. The 

Block Animator/2 

(versions BA/2-SBCA, BA/2-SBCA-IR, and BA/2-SBCA-X) provides 3-aspect 

(color or position) signaling for Tomar Semaphore motors, signals with bulbs and common anode LED position light signals.  

 

The 

Block Animator/2

 provides automatic operation of two 3-aspect block signals in a semi-prototypical way. Four sensors 

(photocells or infrared emitters and detectors) are used for bidirectional train detection; two are used for the Eastbound signal 
and two are used for the Westbound signal. The typical layout of the signals and sensors is illustrated below.  
 

Sensor

W1

Sensor

E1

Sensor

W2

Sensor

E2

Signal

EB

Signal

WB

W          E

 

 

What is different from the original version of the 

Block Animator (BAD-SBCA, BAD-SBCA-IR)

 

Signal outputs are turned  on in sequence (Red 

 Yellow 

 Green), briefly,  when power is first applied to  the 

board. This gives you a quick test of the signals to make sure all the connections are correct and the signals work! 

 

The  time  delay  between  color  changes  is  now  adjustable  from  1  to  127  seconds!  You  are  no  longer  limited  to 
choosing between one of two delay times. 

 

There are individual sensor status indicators on the circuit board. These not only help you when first setting up 
the board but are also active when in “operating” mode. 

 

The  Flashing  Yellow  aspect  has  been  added.  When  enabled  the  signal  will  transition  from  yellow  to  flashing 
yellow before returning to green. This simulates an Approach Medium indication. 

 

There is no need to swap chips on the board if you want to use a photocell, infrared between-the-rails, infrared 
across-the-rails,  and  external  detectors.  However,  you  will  need  to  decide  which  sensor  type  (photocell  or 
infrared), if any, you want at the time of purchase. Both sensor types are still available separately (#PCELL or 
#BTR-IR4) if you want to change types! 

 

The board is also offered without optical sensors (version BA/2-SBCA-X) for use with other brands of external 
detectors. 

 

The infrared detection method has been improved and no longer has strict limits on the incoming voltage. 

NOTE: 

the IR emitter wiring is different from the previous generation product!!! Please pay close attention to this.

  

 

We  added  another  visual  feature,  Signal  Fade,  which  fades  individual  aspects  off  and  on  when  transitioning 
between the indications (clear, stop, approach). This feature can be enabled or disabled on the board. 

 

How does it work? 

In  the  absence of  any  trains  the  two  signals  will  be  green.  Now  consider  a  train  traveling  eastbound.  When  sensor W1  is 
activated signal WB will change from green  to red and will remain  red as the train continues eastbound and subsequently 
activates sensor W2. When the train then activates sensor E2 signal EB will change from green to red. Once the train has 
totally cleared sensors W1 and W2 signal WB will change from red back to green. As the train continues eastbound towards 
sensor E1 signal EB will remain red. Once the train has passed over sensor E1 and totally clears both it and sensor E2 signal 
EB will change to yellow; this mimics the behavior of the train entering the “next block.” After a time delay (adjustable; see 
page 7) signal EB will change to green. Signal operation for a westbound train is similar with signal EB changing from green 
to red and back to green while signal WB changes from green to red to yellow and back to green. 

 

Summary of Contents for BA/2-SBCA

Page 1: ...aspect has been added When enabled the signal will transition from yellow to flashing yellow before returning to green This simulates an Approach Medium indication There is no need to swap chips on th...

Page 2: ...ent operates on battery power Having the signals unlit most of the time saves battery power as well as prolongs the life of the bulbs The rule for illumination is simple the signal shall be illuminate...

Page 3: ...d suggest a resistor value of 100 ohms e g www mouser com part number 291 100 RC If the input voltage is equal to or slightly lower than that of the bulbs then no resistors are needed Current limiting...

Page 4: ...or When you purchased this product it either came with a photocell infrared components or neither board only for use with external detectors The sensor mode is selected using the switches labeled SEN...

Page 5: ...tly over them this will allow the Block Animator 2 to still properly detect a train that has stopped over any photocell with the gap between cars over a photocell Photocell sensitivity setup You can a...

Page 6: ...IR components should be located across the track as shown in Figure 10a and 10b the distance between them has been tested up to 16 inches The detectors dark lens blue and black wires should be mounted...

Page 7: ...ich means that when a train is detected the output is pulled to ground When no train is sensed the detector output is an open circuit or floating You will need 3 detection blocks or zones Figure 12 sh...

Page 8: ...signals will sequence from red yellow flashing yellow green Signal Fade reproduces the behavior of older prototype signals which used bulbs As the indications change the aspects colors will fade off...

Page 9: ...either of its detector input terminals and the GND terminal AND change the sensor mode to External Detector see Table 1 on page 4 The signal should immediately change to red If not then the Block Ani...

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