Hi,

The original batch were from the servo shop, on line. The last two batches have been off eBay. They are Tower Pro SG90. I suspect some for sale aren't the real deal, so I am prepared for a few duds. So far only 1. But at that price they are almost disposable.

I operate them using the MERG Servo4 boards. You have to be a member to buy the kits, but well worth it: great bunch of helpful people.

I can see I need to paint the finials and add the lamps. Oops.

Thanks for posting this, I have a number of signals for my layout that I want to have operational. I have had the same problems with the little brackets and the rodding but have persevered (well with one bracket arm at least).

I am replacing the plastic arms with scale link brass ones - not the easiest thing to do, as the each arm has to be soldered up from two pieces (arm and spectacle plate) and then has a brass rod attached at the back for the spindle arm. I had already thought about using track pins in future.

I've used the etched brass cranks supplied with some of the ratio signal kits rather than the plastic ones, and Peco/Ratio have kindly supplied some extra ones at a very reasonable price. The scale link cranks (included on the signal etch) seemed far to flimsy to me.  

I was intending to use wire/thread to operate the signals running back to lever frame and had never considered the use of servos. I might give this a try.

Can they be operated from passing contact switches, like point motors? I assume you have to be careful of the current/voltage used to ensure you don't burn them out.

Dean

Dean,

Thanks for reading and the comment.

Unfortunately you cannot use servos like point motors and you cannot use passing contacts switches.

You need some electronics to operate the servos. I use the MERG Servo4 circuit boards. These are kits you solder up yourself. Each one operates 4 servos. The switched operation is a simple on/off switch. You use a pc or a separate box of tricks made from another MERG kit to programme the board with the start position (off), end position (on), and the speed you want the servo to move from to the other. You do this for each servo and the board remembers the information. Servos are useful for operating signals, points, gates and anything that moves through an arc.

The kits are only available to MERG members, but it is easy to join.

Yes you do have to be careful about voltage, but that is more for the SERVO4 Board than the servo.

If you read back over some of my blog entries, you will see what I mean. There is a photo of one of the boards under Time Flies.

There is also a thread I started under layout topics called Ratio GWR Bracket Signals, where others have contributed useful stuff about the signals.

I hope that helps.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the response. I built most of the signal posts etc some time ago (see this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/45577-a-signalling-challenge/page-3 for pictures). then came to a shuddering halt - I keep meaning to get restarted but can always find reasons not to.

As you can see from the abive thread there are an awful lot of signal arms to "crank up.

I had already decided on building bases onto the bottom of the each post (as you have done) to take the cranks etc to carry the motion from whatever operating system I use.

However I am interested in the use of servos, (especially if it allows you to control the speed of movement) although its obviously more complicated than I thought. I shall look into the MERG thing.

Thanks again.

Dean