Sensor Signals
1
!
Please handle the signal carefully & read these instructions before using!!
PC200 Quad
Point controller
Track sensor
Mimic Panel
Sensor
Signal
Level
Crossing
Sensor
Signal
Sensor
Signal
Sensor
Signal
D
ire
ct
ion
of
trav
el
Direc
tion
of
tr
av
el
Sensor Signals are easy to use, but care needs to be taken to install them properly to make them work
reliably and safely, so please take time to read these instructions first. Particular care needs to be taken to
ensure that the small sensor or any wires do not touch the rails or anything else otherwise permanent
damage to the signal will result,
so always install with all Controller and Track Power OFF
.
Our Signals are precision scale models and so are correspondingly fragile - handle with care!
Sensor Signals
incorporate an infrared sensor which automatically changes the signal when a train passes
to signal danger to following trains. When used on their own they gradually change back to green a short
time after the last part of the train has crossed over the signal, but when linked to other Sensor Signals
(using just a single wire) they all work together to provide fully automatic block working, each signal
protecting the following block by staying at danger until the train has left the block.
We developed Sensor Signals recognising that most modellers run their layouts on their own most of the
time and so do not have time to be signalmen as well as train drivers! However much of the ‘real’ railways
main lines use automatic signalling and Sensor Signals work in a very similar way.
Signalling basics
The most basic signals are 2 aspect Home (red & green) and Distant (yellow & green). A Distant signal is
installed ahead of a home signal to give early warning to the driver of what the next signal is, so if the Distant
signal is green he knows the next signal is also green, but if it is showing yellow he knows the next signal will
be red. There are also 3 aspect Home-Distant signals with yellow lights as well as the Red & Green which
are called Home-Distant, and on high speed main lines there are 4 aspect Outer-Distant signals with red,
green and 2 yellow distant lights which give an even earlier indication of the next 2 signals to the train driver.
Much of the ‘real’ railways main lines actually use automatic signalling and Sensor Signals work in a very
similar way. We cannot cover any real detail of signal planning and operation here, but there are many good
books and websites (eg www.signalbox.org) dedicated to the subject. The illustrations in this guide mainly
show 4 aspect Sensor Signals, but the same principles apply to all variations of Train-Tech signals.
Layout Link
A basic layout showing how
signals, mimic switches and
other accessories can link
together easily using just a
single wire between them.
