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Offline brudon82  
#1 Posted : 16 April 2022 22:48:19(UTC)
brudon82

United States   
Joined: 13/05/2021(UTC)
Posts: 11
Location: Washington, Spokane
New to marklin What is a Reed switch?

Thanks for all the knowledge and support on this subject. Ctrack
Offline marklinist5999  
#2 Posted : 16 April 2022 23:53:36(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,477
Location: Michigan, Troy
Welcome brudon82! A reed switch is a one direction only dependent contact switch which mounts on the track and as the pickup shoe, a magnet, or a sprung metal tab on the car bottom rolls over it completes a feedback circuit to trigger an event, signal, or turnout.
These are usually connected to the digital control unit with an S-88 feedback module or equivalent. They can be used in comjunction with other contact tracks for additional events, etc. which are wheel only activated and are not direction dependent.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by marklinist5999
Offline kiwiAlan  
#3 Posted : 17 April 2022 00:57:42(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,268
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: marklinist5999 Go to Quoted Post
Welcome brudon82! A reed switch is a one direction only dependent contact switch which mounts on the track and as the pickup shoe, a magnet, or a sprung metal tab on the car bottom rolls over it completes a feedback circuit to trigger an event, signal, or turnout.


You are talking about two totally different kinds of contacts here, the pickup shoe operated ones are NOT reed switches, but are mechanical switches operated by mechanical means.

A reed switch is always operated by a magnet, and consist of a glass tube, about an inch (25mm) long (typically) and about an 1/8 inch (3.2mm) diameter. There is a wire at each end (see picture).

Reed_switch_(aka).jpg

Image from Wikipedia, André Karwath aka Aka - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedi...w/index.php?curid=124713

They are usually supplied as normally open (as illustrated), but can be manufactured as normally closed, or it is possible to get them (but very rare) with changeover contacts.

They are operated to the opposite state using a magnet. They may be polarity sensitive to the magnet (i.e. you may need the North and South poles to be in the correct orientation to operate the switch).

Originally they were designed for use in telephone exchanges when these were first being converted to electronic exchanges from the old mechanical switches that were driven by rotary dial telephone. They were operated by a coil of wire that was slid over the reed switch rather than a permanent magnet.

Marklin supply a reed switch on a plastic housing to mount on track, and magnets to fit to rolling stock or locos. These can be an alternative method to the pickup shoe method mentioned above, for detecting trains. You don't need to use Marklins reed switch, any reed switch could be used, or there are other magnet detecting methods that can be used as an alternative, but that is a different subject.

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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#4 Posted : 17 April 2022 09:38:35(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,724
Location: New Zealand
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post
Marklin supply a reed switch on a plastic housing to mount on track.....


That would be the Marklin 7555. Viessmann also produce a similar reed switch - #6840.

Capture.JPG
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Offline PJMärklin  
#5 Posted : 17 April 2022 11:28:39(UTC)
PJMärklin

Australia   
Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 2,226
Location: Hobart, Australia
Originally Posted by: brudon82 Go to Quoted Post
New to marklin What is a Reed switch?

Thanks for all the knowledge and support on this subject. Ctrack



Hi,

Welcome to the forum Smile .

Märklin make a reed switch :


UserPostedImage


UserPostedImage


UserPostedImage


UserPostedImage


and also make the small magnets to attach to the locos or rolling stock passing over the switch, e.g. :


UserPostedImage


This then closes the contacts in the reed switch, which can then signal many applications, be them “analogue” or digital.


It is one option amongst many of how to signal an event on the layout.

I considered the use of reed switches when constructing my current layout in the mid 1990’s but decided from my
particular situation that they were not for me, but they are used by many folk.


Enjoy your trains!BigGrin

Regards,

PJ




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Offline PJMärklin  
#6 Posted : 17 April 2022 12:05:00(UTC)
PJMärklin

Australia   
Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 2,226
Location: Hobart, Australia
Originally Posted by: marklinist5999 Go to Quoted Post
Welcome brudon82! A reed switch is a one direction only dependent contact switch which mounts on the track and as the pickup shoe, a magnet, or a sprung metal tab on the car bottom rolls over it completes a feedback circuit to trigger an event, signal, or turnout.
These are usually connected to the digital control unit with an S-88 feedback module or equivalent. They can be used in comjunction with other contact tracks for additional events, etc. which are wheel only activated and are not direction dependent.


Hello 99,Smile

Sadly, I was somewhat disappointed that you again provided what might be regarded as a rapid but quite
erroneous reply to a new member seeking help.Sad

It can be seen from the information subsequently posted on this thread, that the reed switch by Märklin only
works by way of a magnet (in our modelleisenbahn case fitted to locos or rolling stock passing over the switch).
As indeed do all reed switches as noted here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_switch
They are thus also not "direction-dependent".

New members should be able to reasonably expect (and rely on) truthful, accurate answers to their
questions on this forum. Wink
Unfounded answers just confuse new members and then require correction by other members,
making it all rather messyOhMyGod, as has been noted with concern on this forum previously.

My comments are posted hopefully with persuasive goodwill, no malice and in the altruistic
hope that we may see useful information posted to new membersBigGrin

Regards,

PJThumpUp

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Offline brudon82  
#7 Posted : 17 April 2022 14:07:22(UTC)
brudon82

United States   
Joined: 13/05/2021(UTC)
Posts: 11
Location: Washington, Spokane
Thank you so much for all the answers, the knowledge on this forum is outstanding.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by brudon82
Offline marklinist5999  
#8 Posted : 17 April 2022 14:24:14(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,477
Location: Michigan, Troy
Your welcome! Now you know every option!
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