2
You should make all of the connections to the
Block Animator/2
before applying power to it. You can mount the
Block
Animator/2
anywhere it is convenient underneath your layout using the four mounting holes provided. The holes will accept
#4 screws; do not enlarge the holes as damage to the circuit board can result and your warranty will be voided!
The
Block Animator/2
board has a set of 10 configuration switches on it. Each switch is briefly described below with more
details later in these instructions.
Switch Name
Meaning when OFF/OPEN
Meaning when ON/CLOSED
SETUP
BA/2 is in normal operating mode
BA/2 is in sensor setup mode
TRUE LENS2
Signal does NOT flash red during the yellow to
green transition
Signal briefly flashes red during the yellow to
green transition
SIG EB
EB signal has 4 wires with individual green,
yellow and red LEDs (3-light or searchlight)
EB signal is a 2 or 3 wire searchlight type
constructed with a single red/green LED (bipolar)
SIG WB
WB signal has 4 wires with individual green,
yellow and red LEDs (3-light or searchlight)
WB signal is a 2 or 3 wire searchlight type
constructed with a single red/green LED (bipolar)
YEL HUE
Yellow hue for bipolar LEDs is more reddish
Yellow hue for bipolar LEDs is more greenish
APPRL
Approach Lighting is Disabled
Approach Lighting is Enabled
SEN TYPE
Sensors are photocells or external current detectors
Sensors are infrared
SEN POL
See text in the Sensor Modes section
See text in the Sensor Modes section
FLASH YEL
Flashing Yellow feature is Disabled
Flashing Yellow feature is Enabled
Approach Lighting
The concept of Approach Lighting is quite simple. A signal remains dark (not illuminated) until a train approaches it (i.e. the
block in advance of the signal is occupied). This has been primarily used in the western U.S. in remote locations where signal
equipment 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 illuminated when the preceding block is occupied.
The
Block Animator/2
supports this feature (when the APPRL switch is ON/CLOSED) and works as follows. Signal EB will
be illuminated whenever an eastbound train activates sensor W1 or sensor W2. Note that if the eastbound train activates and
then clears sensor W1 but after 35 seconds hasn’t activated sensor W2, then the
Block Animator/2
will assume the train has
actually reversed direction and will turn the signal off. Similarly, signal EB will also be illuminated whenever a westbound
train activates sensor W2 and will keep signal EB illuminated until sensor W1 is activated and then subsequently cleared. The
same 35 second “timeout” mechanism is in effect for this direction of travel too. Signal WB will operate in a similar manner
with respect to sensors E1 and E2. You can turn approach lighting on or off at any time. If you turn this feature OFF then the
signals will be illuminated all the time!
Searchlight Signals with Bipolar LEDs (older Tomar Industries, Oregon Rail Supply, etc)
To select a 2 or 3 lead searchlight signal on the
Block Animator/2
you must have the
appropriate configuration switch (SIG EB or SIG WB) in the ON position as shown in
Figure 1. The type of LED used in these model searchlight signals is commonly called
a bipolar or tri-color LED. This LED has two elements inside of a single housing; one
element is green and the other is red. There are two ways that these LEDs are
internally wired. One has two leads and the other has three leads; the three-leaded
variety is the most common. The
Block Animator/2
supports either one as shown in
Figures 2a & 2b; these diagrams depict the wiring for the Eastbound signal head;
wiring for the Westbound signal head is equivalent. You MUST use resistors with
LED-based signals! Because the
Block Animator/2
pr5V power to the LED
we recommend a resistor value of 150 ohms. We have included six resistors with this
product; you can use higher value resistors if you wish! With a three-leaded variety
you can choose to use one resistor in the common path (as shown in Figure 2b) or you
could choose to use one resistor in EACH of the color (i.e. G & R) connections (this is
NOT illustrated).
NOTE: The YEL and CTR terminals are not used with this
signal type!
Figure 1 – selecting 2-lead or 3-
lead searchlight signals
(EB signal selection shown)
2-lead searchlight
signal
150Ω
G
R
3-lead searchlight
signal
G
150
R
Figure 2a – two-lead bipolar
Figure 2b – three-lead bipolar
(EB signal wiring shown) (EB signal wiring shown)
