InfraRed Detection Of Trains.


This was briefly discussed a few years ago, but I could not post to the old topic.


Has anyone ever used the Heathcote IRDOT InfraRed Detection Of Trains system at all, say just for s88 feedback? I know Perz and Ron have both described home-brewed systems, and Lissy is just to complex.


http://www.heathcote-ele.../IRDetec.htm#DESCRIPTION




r/Thomas

this may be of interest to you http://www.azatrax.com/i...odel-train-detector.html

Thomas,

I will, the moment I get any results, post my own designed infrared reflecting pulse optocuplers to replace the not so reliable switching tracks (K-tracks and possible C-tracks), what I've seen so far is way beyond my knowledge and capacity and buying infrared reflectors at US$ 18.00 + is not what I intend to do.
at the same time it is always refreshing to see what other people do and it is also encouraging I'm not the only one who likes to explore other possibilities and options.

My motivation regarding finding other options are mainly associated with the cost and secondly finding a solution to copy a component's function bought from the shelf.

this enables me a.) to produce many at the fraction of the cost, b.) to design it myself without the complicity of electronics know how.

at the moment I have 4 designs and one has already proved to be a success is the signal braking module and since its first introduction have now at least 40 or 50 made up a saving of at least A$ 500.00. my second design will be the symmetric electric 4 pin couplers and again these will have a specific purpose and at the same time will create a saving of up to 80 % and my last project are the infrared reflective optocouplers, the component is a product from the shelf but so far I'm aware is not used in model railway industry, similar products yes but not this particular one but in the end it could be all a waste of time.
any reflective infrared pulse has benefits and especially when the component can be place within the track and it doesn't take up 1/2 track or a specially designed track (switching track) and its operational reliance is longer lasting.
sitting between 2 sleepers of a K-track it will be hardly noticeable and if required could be placed between each cavity, what other applications this component could serve is anybodies guess and I guess one drawback is, it is not directional.
my last successful solution was just the ordinary optocoupler and this was used for one reason only, how can I have 16 volt AC on one side and 5 Volt DC on the otherside and these optocouplers had been in conjunction with the 50 or so signal braking modules, current switching tracks and my newly acquired ESU Servo motors and servo motor modules as there was no way to combine all of them to be functional.

John