Traffic Light?

[marriott211]

I have acquired an actual traffic light, you know Red, Yellow and Green. I want to wire it into the track, using Trackmate timing, and have the lights work, according to the condition of the track.

I will likely have to re-wire the light, as it's currently been modded to be plugged into the wall and all three lights come on. I want the red light on when the track is dead, the green light to come on and the red light to go off when the track is live. I'd like the yellow light to come on when we hit the final 10 second countdown on a heat. Of course, this all has to be controlled by Trackmate somehow...

Any help? Bear in mind, I'm not an electrician...

-Jim

[k0z0oo1]

With TrackMate I don't believe you'll be able to get the yellow light to come on with 10 seconds left. However, it would be possible to get the red and green lights to work the way you want them to.

By wiring a relay in parallel to the tack power relay, you can have that relay control the red and green lights.



Points 85 and 86 would go in parallel with your track power relay.

Point 30 would be the Hot wire from your 120v cord.

Point 87 would go to one light. (Either green or red)
Point 87a would go to the other light.
(This depends on what way your track power relay and TrackMate is set up)

If you don't have any track calls during a heat, it may be possible to use a time delay relay to turn on your yellow light.

Just remember, 120v wiring should always be inside an enclosure to protect persons and property from faults and short circuits. I would try to fit the relay inside the traffic light and just run another cord to the TrackMate board.

[RV Racing]

Great information here! I have a miniature (toy) traffic light, and long have wanted to wire it up to the Trackmate board. Now I know how to do it! It's low voltage, so minimal risk of electrocution if/when I get it wrong.

Thank you!
Rick V.

[marriott211]

Great information! I am going to give this a try. I can handle the re-wiring of the light, and will definitely put the controls in the light itself. Any suggestions on how to do the time delay relay? We don't run with track calls, so a time delay would work.

Thanks!!
Jim

[k0z0oo1]

Jim,
Depending on what way your TrackMate power relay is set up (normally open or normally closed) would determine what type of time delay relay you need, either delay on energize (on delay) or delay on de-energize (off delay). Though, basically it would again parallel the other relays, and the Rainer would be set for 10 seconds less than your heat time. This relay's contacts would be wired to the yellow light.

If you can check the settings on TrackMate, and the way your power relay is wired, I will draw out the connections for you. As well as help you source the proper relays.

[marriott211]