VIDEOMIKE123

I think you'll find it's the reverse. The only reason a push button is recommended is because it MUST be a momentary contact. I'm really sorry because your suggestion seemed to be the best and simplest. These are the Dapol instructions: -

10 hours ago, Suzie said:

Connecting the two yellow wires for an extended period will not damage the signal.

I'm sorry, but I think you'll find it does. That's why this operation is such a tricky one and why they say you must only have a momentary connection between the 2 yellow wires.

On 09/04/2021 at 15:16, Suzie said:

Oh, how to wire these switches. It is quite easy, link the two centre contacts, then connect the two Yellow wires to the outer terminals which are linked when the switch is in the middle position.

 

Every time the switch passes through the middle position the signal will move, and the position that the switch ends up should correspond with the signal position.

 

If you need to resync just move the switch to the middle position and back again.

Oh Suzie, so far you seem to have the simplest option. I'm a mechanical engineer but not electro mechanical. Can you advise: -

1. do you connect the yellow wires to opposite sides of the terminals, i.e. top left and bottom right? otherwise I can't see what the link does.

2. what would happen if the switch was accidentally knocked to the centre position. In my head it would seem to make a permanent connection between the 2 yellow wires and fry the signal!

23 hours ago, RAF96 said:

I thought the Dapol signals were push to make to select, then push again to select the other way. They are not directionally controllable, just sequential, i.e. next, next, next.

But that doesn't leave any indication of the signal position and that's what I'm trying to avoid!

I was a member of MERG but everything was over my head so I left some time ago.

7 hours ago, Suzie said:

You can get 3-position double pole ON-ON-ON type toggle switches which can be wired to create a pulse each time the switch passes through the central position. This is the best hope you have of achieving what you desire. 

I've not heard of those before. Do you know where you can get them?

17 hours ago, roythebus1 said:

Try a DP spring loaded centre off switch and wire a 2 colour LED on the 2nd set of contact. That will show a red or green light when the signal operates.

Won't the LED go off when the switch reverts to centre/off?

15 hours ago, Nigelcliffe said:

For those going from the bottom, various circuits offer a single pulse output from a few components (my antique book on 555 timer circuits will have something).   

Or if into newer digital electronics, then its pretty simple Arduino stuff - taking the normal change-over switch as inputs, and generating a pulse on the output to a transistor (or similar) and that transistor briefly grounds the Dapol signal, thus changing its aspect.   One Arduino (Nano or Uno) has more than enough inputs/outputs to cover three signals and their switches.  

I'm no electronics expert but I do have friends who are so I'll pass that idea past them and see if they can help me.

Regards Mike

I am about to fit 3 Dapol motorised signals to my GWR EM layout but their wiring system doesn’t suit my method of operation. All of my points are operated via DPDT toggle switches so that the position of the toggle always shows the direction of the route chosen and I would like to operate the signals the same way. So, I don’t want to use Push buttons or sliding contact switches where the toggle springs back to centre off. Neither indicates the position of the signal after firing it.

I also do not want switches like the Peco and Hornby ones as they aren’t practical with my control panel.

My first thought was to use a standard toggle switch together with a push button so that you could set the position of the signal with the toggle switch and then fire it with the push button. The only problem with that is that if the push button is accidentally pushed for a second time it will operate the signal again and you finish up with the signal and toggle switch set in opposite directions.

My current thought is to see if I can find toggle switches that have a sliding contact each way but stay in their designated position after firing the signal motor. That way I get the best of both worlds and don’t have to worry about push buttons.

Any thoughts anyone?

Regards Mike

Thanks everyone, Ken did send me the draft of the original article and photos which have been useful but I'm still having difficulties. The cover is very flexible when trying to open from the side but the cover still won't come off, and I cannot get the very smallest screwdriver into the ends of the cover. I've now sent an email to Dapol asking for advice. Don't know if they'll help.

regards Mike

Thanks Dai. I had tried the ends to start with but couldn't get the smallest screwdriver in anywhere. I'll have another look later but I'm wondering if this is a part they changed when they re-tooled for this latest batch because I'm surprised that it seems quite flexible/rubbery. But it definitely doesn't seem to want to come off! Can you remember which end opens up?

Regards Mike

I've now found that I can get a reasonably large screwdriver in at the side but the cover seems to be made of rubber and i can move it up quite a bit but it still doesn't want to come off. Obviously, I'm a bit nervous about damaging it. Any suggestions?

MIKE

Hi, Ken. In a small break from trying to finish the cloakroom (where everything that could go wrong, has) I tried the conversion but I'm having trouble getting the cover off of the motor bogie. Do you put the screwdriver in the end of the cover or the side?

Regards Mike

Ken, If that's a problem, send me your email address and I'll send you my home address via email so that you can then post a copy to me by snail mail if that's better.

And thanks Smiley, any help much appreciated.

Mike

Hi Ken my email is - videomike123@gmail.com

If you could send me a copy of your draft attached to an email that would be great. I still haven't found it yet.

Mike

Thanks Ken, I'm looking through my Newsletters and I've even found some from 2012 so far, but not the period I need. I presume it was the Newsletter and not in the Bulletins?

Many thanks for that, I'm actually an EMGS member and have kept all my Newsletters although it would take a good search to find it. But I'm surprised I don't remember seeing your article when it came out, but then again, my memory is awful! Do you happen to remember the Newsletter number? I'll have a search.

And if the power driven wheels can be re-used, why can't you re-use the original wheels on the unpowered bogie?

Has anyone converted this model to EM?

If so, can you offer any guidance re dismantling the power bogie and whether the wheels need to be changed or can just be moved out. If new wheels does Alan Gibson produce suitable wheels?

Regards MIKE

I've not had time to read all the posts, but has anyone converted a railcar to EM, and if so, what wheels etc did you use.

Regards Mike

I know it's early days but does anyone think it could be modified to EM gauge?

MIKE

Can you buy South Eastern Finecast instructions on their own? I'll check that out tomorrow. Thanks

Many thanks for your offer, but I also have the 14XX instructions, having built one a few years ago. I've already built the basic chassis for the Metro with compensation. Unfortunately, it's the small details like brake fittings etc which I believe are different on the Metro. I'll have a look for my 14XX instructions next because, as you say, they might be helpful. I'll also dig out my Jim Russell loco books, the photos there may be useful.

Thanks Stubby. Please let me know how much I need to pay and how to do so. regards Mike

If it hasn't gone yet, I'd be interested in the "Guide to the Steam Railways of Great Britain".

A few years ago I bought a non running Metro which had been built to P4 standards whilst I model in EM. I also bought a Perseverance chassis kit which must have been quite old as it has no diagrams or pictures in it at all, just written words. I'm part way through construction but some diagrams of what goes where would now be useful. I don't know if these instructions were ever updated with deawings like the other chassis' I have biult but if anyone has one, can i get a copy please?

It doesn't matter (remark not applicable to DCC about which I know very little) which side they go on except that connecting them the 'wrong' way will reverse the loco.  As you need to know which way it is going to go when you turn the knob on the controller, this becomes relevant.  If you cannot ascertain if from the way the wires 'hang' inside the loco, then temporarily attach them with blutac or something, just to test run the chassis for direction, and when you've got it right, put a splash of paint on one of them.  Then clean off the blutac or something and solder them back on.

Many thanks, I'll try that.