Block detection
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Block detection is a method for detecting rolling stock within a given section of track.
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[edit] Purpose
Knowing where trains are on your layout can be used for many purposes. It can be used for position indicators, operational signaling, automated control, or animation. To perform these tasks, a certain amount of blocking needs to be done for train detection. Even though this does take some work, it's easier to accomplish this with DCC than with block control. While it's not realistic, we'll say that the signal blocks in our example below are 12 feet long.
[edit] Block detectors
To get block detection working, you will need block detectors.
There are two basic forms of block detectors. First, and usually preferred, is a block detector that detects trains and reports the status to your control system. These detectors are usually more expensive.
The second type of detector simply detects the trains, but requires additional circuitry to send the status to your command station. However, they are still useful without this, as they can operate a crossing gate without the command station even knowing.
[edit] Preparing the track
Here are the steps to prepare your track for block detection:
- In order to get block detection working, you first need to select a section of track you wish to detect if a train is on that track.
- .....
[edit] See also
- Block Detection, another page on the same topic
- Track wiring - General track wiring information
- Signaling - More information about signaling
- Animation - Animation control through DCC
[edit] External links
- Wiring For DCC - Block detection information at Wiring for DCC.
- Loytoys - Short section on block detection
