Sproston - " Lights, Cameras, Action......"

Entry posted by sigtech September 20, 2016

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Hello again everyone - as you will be aware from reading a previous blog entry on here, the method of 'seeing' where the trains were, ( or indeed where they were not!! ) in the hidden sidings was achieved by means of eight photo-electric detectors positioned two under each of the four tracks, and linked to a clever ic 'gizmo' that connected them to red and green LEDS on a small indication panel, red being track occupied and green track clear.
Good though the system was, it suffered from the indifferent lighting conditions in the loft which caused both red and green leds to be occasionally lit simultaneously or to flash, this caused much confusion (and naughty words) .It also made the precise meanings to the operator rather ambiguous, requiring much mental work to reason out what was really going on " behind the scenes" as it were, often having to resort to going around and having a look....
The better answer to this problem would probably have been to use infra red detectors (IRDOTS), but again there is no substitute for actually being able to see what is going on, so I decided that things had to change.
I was galvanized into action after reading about another excellent layout on RMWEB 'Aylestone West' by Shanks 552 in which he used hidden CCTV cameras and a monitor to view his storage sidings - so thanks Graham your help is much appreciated!!

After a quick search on Ebay revealed just what I needed ; two cctv cameras (with Infra red), all the connecting cables, and a remote control, plus 7" cctv monitor (made in China, of course....(designed for in truck/bus use overseas) and running on 12vdc, all for just under £40....Is it my imagination or do we only make mistakes and errors in this country, leaving everyone else to manufacture the useful "stuff"?? (Rant over).

Mounting the two cameras was the most difficult part of the process. I used several different sizes of zip-tie to hold the cameras in place, fixing them to blocks of wood to enable movement forwards or backwards (the cameras are fixed focus), or some very stout cardboard glued to wooden supports fixing them onto the existing baseboard framework.
The 7"monitor simply occupies the space where the IC 'gizmo' was previously positioned. This gadget was made by "Blocksignalling" - I still have all the instructions and bits if anyone is interested in it?/ and would like to purchase.

The final requirement was for more illumination, (This would have partly solved the original problem), there followed a " Maplin Moment" and I purchased a half meter long self - adhesive 12vdc led strip which was stuck midway along the underside of the middle timber that forms the 'roof' of the hidden sidings. Two thin soft wire loops were wound around it for extra support and with a 3w resistor soldered into the positive leg, dropping the voltage to 12.2v from 14.4vdc.
I should add at this point that all these items, the two cctv cameras, the monitor and this led striplight are all fed from the output of the 'Gaugemaster' controller via the 12vdc (uncontrolled) bussbar.

The system is now up and running, and although the pictures from the cameras are rather "grainy" and would not win any prizes, it is possible to see by switching between them exactly what is going on anywhere in the hidden sidings - as an extra bonus (although not required as I have indication lights on the control panel) I can also see and identify the lie of two of the three sets of points using the cameras, it is possible to monitor the train as it moves and spot any derailments, along with being able to accurately 'park locomotives and stock on already occupied tracks, in short it is a much easier to use and more flexible arrangement than the previous one. Very Pleased...

Well that's enough theatre for now!!
Comments good or bad always welcome. Until next time.
Regards
SIGTECH (Steve.