Train Tech TTSK5 SK5 Signal Kit 3 Aspect Distant with Yellow and Green LEDs Instruction Manual

Train Tech TTSK5 SK5 Signal Kit 3 Aspect Distant with Yellow and Green

LEDs

Product Information

The SK5+ Home/Distant Red-Yellow-Green Signal self-assembly kit is designed for use on OO/HO gauge model railways. It contains a plastic signal kit, an aluminum signal post, a signal LED lights printed circuit board (PCB), a 1K resistor, and an instruction leaflet. The LED lights are pre-soldered onto the PCB, which has large contacts at the base for wire connections. The kit also includes wiring diagrams and recommendations for tools and adhesives.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Step 1: Assembling the kit
   • Use a sharp craft knife or cutters to cut thicker supports and release the main parts.
   • Trim off the small supports using a sharp craft knife or cutters.
   • Follow the instruction leaflet for detailed assembly instructions.
2. Step 2: Connecting the signal
   • Drill a 6-8mm hole in your baseboard to clear the signal PCB.
   • If desired, the signal can be free-standing or held in place using suitable glue or double-sided sticky pads.
   • Solder wires onto the metal ‘pads’ at the bottom of the LED light PCB using a small tip soldering iron (18-25 watts).
   • Ensure that the wires are securely connected to the pads by pre-tinning them before soldering.
3. Step 3: Powering the signal
   • Power the signal from a DC supply or DCC decoder.
   • If using a digital decoder, follow the connection instructions provided with the decoder.
   • It is important to fit a 1K resistor as shown in the wiring diagram to prevent damage to the LEDs.
   • Ensure that the power supply is within the range of 12-16 volts DC.
4. Step 4: Control options
   • You can control the signal using a conventional lever or toggle switches.
   • If desired, you can connect the signal to a DCC decoder for control from a digital controller or computer.
   • Note that Train-Tech offers a signal with a built-in DCC decoder for easy plug-and-play installation.

Please refer to the instruction leaflet and wiring diagrams provided for further guidance and safety precautions.

SK5+ Home/Distant Red-Yellow-Green Signal self assembly kit

CAUTION – ALWAYS SWITCH OFF POWER TO YOUR LAYOUT BEFORE CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING ANY ACCESSORIES This Self-assembly signal kit contains a plastic kit, post, and LED Light circuit board with resistor to make a Colour Light signal designed for use on an OO/HO gauge model railways – please read these instructions before assembly and connecting to power.

Introduction

Contents

• 1 Plastic Signal kit
• 1 Aluminium signal post
• 1 Signal LED lights printed circuit board ‘PCB’
• 1 1KΩ resistors (Colour: Black Brown Red Gold)
• 1 Instruction leaflet

Recommended tools

(not included)

• Sharp craft knife or cutters
  Small needle file, tweezers or small pliers Adhesives to suit plastic/metal (see below)

• Magnifier

• Cutting mat

Thank you for purchasing one of our self-assembly signal kits. This kit is an all-new design based on an actual colour light signal near our base in Norfolk and is fairly typical of British outline colour light signals and designed to scale with the red light in line with the train driver’s eye, just like the real thing. We have utilised the latest LEDs for the lights but unlike most signal kits we have presoldered them on narrow printed circuit boards which makes them much easier to assemble and connect. They are also more realistic being uncoloured until lit and have an integral lens so they shine brighter faced from the front.

You can either control this signal using a conventional Lever frame or Toggle type switches or connect it to a DCC decoder to control it from a Digital controller or computer. (note that Train-Tech also offer this signal with a built-in DCC decoder which just plugs straight into the track – no wires or circuitry!)
Warning Take extra care when using tools and adhesives.

Construction advice
The plastic part of this kit is made of a blend of mostly ABS which is slightly more forgiving and less brittle than the polystyrene often used for plastic kits. However, it can still be glued together using most general model kit adhesives such as Humbrol or Revell Liquid Poly or ‘super glue’ – be sure to follow instructions for application and safety supplied with the adhesive. Note that if fixing accessories to the aluminium post, such as the phone or sign, you will need to use a glue which is suitable for bonding plastic to metal. To remove parts from the sprue we suggest using either precision wire/model cutters (available from dcpexpress.com and model or tool suppliers) or a sharp knife working on a scrap of wood or cutting mat. Some fragile parts, such as the ladder, maybe more easily prepared by first removing the part with its larger plastic moulding supports attached, then carefully removing the part from the supports. If you wish to paint any parts most model enamel paints should work fine but if unsure check on a small piece of scrap plastic first. Please note that we cannot help customers assemble kits, but if you have difficulties making kits we suggest you try contacting your local model club for assistance.

We recommend first cutting thicker supports to release main parts then trimming off the small supports using a sharp craft knife or cutters Mounting the signal on your baseboard
You will need to drill a hole in your baseboard to clear the signal PCB – we recommend a 6-8mm hole so that the signal can be lifted with wires still fitted if required. The signal can be free-standing or held by a suitable glue or double-sided sticky pad.

Assembling the kit

The exploded diagram below shows all the various components which go to make up a complete signal, although you can fit as few or as many of the detailing parts as you wish for your model. We recommend you read the construction advice below on how to remove parts, adhesives etc. Suggested order of assembly:

• Slide LED PCB through slot in the head mount
• Push-fit or glue head mount onto the aluminium post
• Push-fit post into the main base plate and align
• Glue the front and back of the head cover over the LED’s
• Dry fit or glue ladder between head mount & base
• Glue base cover under base if desired
• Glue handrails, phone, and location board if desired

Wiring advice

• Electrical connection to the signal is via metal ‘pads’ at the bottom of the LED light PCB. These pads are made from thin copper bonded to the fibreglass and then ‘tinned’ to ensure reliable and easy connection.
• The best method of connection is by soldering wires onto these pads using a small tip soldering iron of 18-25 watts, taking care not to apply heat for too long. Note that by pre-tinning wires before soldering onto the pads you will find that the solder will flow much more easily to make a secure joint quickly.
• If you prefer not to solder then you can wrap thin stranded wire around the pads by stripping off the insulation, twisting strands tightly together wrapping them around the signal base and tightly binding insulation tape around each joint.
• However, soldering is the preferred and most reliable method.
• Whichever method you use take care not to let the wires short-circuit to each other and do not forget to fit a resistor in series as shown before powering up your new signal!

Location board labels
These legends can be cut out and glued to the model Location board on the plastic detailing sprue. If using DCC we suggest you use the address you have programmed into your signal decoder which will make the signal easier to identify and operate.

Connecting the signal

• The LED lights are presoldered onto a PCB which has large contacts at the base to connect your wires to. You can either control it by conventional Lever or Toggle switches or alternatively, a digital decoder (eg Train-Tech SC2) if you wish to control it using a DCC controller or computer – follow the connection instructions supplied with the decoder.
• You MUST fit a resistor as shown below and power from a DC supply or DCC decoder or you will cause permanent damage to the LEDs (Unless using with Train-Tech DCC Signal controllers which incorporate resistors inside)

Using LEDs with model railways

• The lights used in this signal kit are called LEDs. LEDs are really useful lights which, unlike their conventional filament predecessors, are robust, low power and if used correctly run cool and can effectively last forever.
• However, there are some important considerations when using LEDs. Firstly LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and a diode is an electronic component which only works in when power is applied in one specific direction, so they always need to be fitted the correct way round to work correctly.
• Also most standard miniature LEDs a modeller will use only need very small amounts of power, so the current flowing through the LED must be limited and this is usually done by a resistor as supplied in this kit. On the usual 12-16 volts DC supply a railway modeller uses a 1kΩ (one thousand ohms) will limit the current to around 10-14mA (mA is thousandths of an amp) which is ideal for most LEDs.
• Note you should only ever use LEDs on a DC (direct current) supply and never an AC (alternating current) supply because although the LED may appear to work properly constant reversal of voltage using AC will eventually damage or shorten its life.
• Train-Tech offers packs of various LEDs for modellers and again these always come with both instructions and suitable resistors for using them on a standard Model Railway DC supply or non-Train-Tech DCC controllers.
• Using Signals with Train-Tech DCC controllers Train-Tech offers various LED controllers including the SC1 and SC2 DCC signal controllers which allow signals such as this to quickly and easily connect to DCC layouts for control by a Digital controller or computer. They are quick to connect needing no resistors or soldering and set up in seconds with no programming of CV codes.
• As well as Signal Controllers, Train-Tech also makes a range of LFX LED lighting controllers which work on both DC and DCC and offer effects to simulate level crossings, welding, traffic lights etc – again resistors are built into all of the LFX units and so LEDs connect directly to them.
  See www.train-tech.com for full details.

Track Tester

• DC & DCC
  

• OO HO
  

• N

• Quickly tests track for power faults

• Low cost and easy to use

• Works on N, TT, OO or HO Track

• Indicates the DC polarity, or DCC, or a fault
  Small enough to checkpoint frogs

Buffer Lights

• DC & DCC
  

• WIRE FREE
  

• OO HO
  

• N

• Add realistic stop light to any siding

• Simply clips onto the track – No wires!

• Fits next to most buffer stops & kits

• Or at the platform end or free-standing

• On DCC both lights are on constantly

• On DC one light is on & varies with the speed

One-Touch DCC™ Digital Signals

• DCC

• FREEWARE

• OO HO

• Signal with DCC decoder built into the base

• Can just plug directly into the track – no wires!

• Easy to fi t and use – no CV programming!

• Can sync to other signals & points

• Available with Feathers & Theatres

One-Touch DCC™ Point Controllers

• DCC

• OO HO

• N

• Z

• Control points and uncouplers using DCC

• Work with most solenoid point motors

• Just connect 2 wires to DCC rails – No CV Programming!

• Easy screw terminals – no soldering

• Built-in CDU for client operation

• Can sync to other points and signals

LFX Lighting Effect Controllers

• DC &DCC

• ANY GAUGE

• Easily add lighting effects to your layout

• LEDs screw in – no resistors or soldering

• Powered by 9v battery, 9-16V DC or DCC

• On DC the effect is on when powered

• On DCC the effect can be controlled

• Effects LEDs are included

Smart Lights – Lighting Effects

• DC & DCC

• ANY GAUGE

• Small – Just 1cm x 1cm x 0.3cm with 2 wire connections

• Power by standard 9-16v DC or a 9v battery

• Or by DCC which can also control some effects

• Just connect and go – no setting up required

• Disco / Emergency / Real Fire / TV / Welding / Random effects

Level Crossing – Ready Assembled

• DCC
• OO HO
• N
• Power from 9-16v DC, DCC or a 9v battery
• Light and sound – all connections easy push fi t
• Includes 2 x Peco static level crossing barriers
• Mounting cap included
• Available in single and pair packs

Automatic Tail, Firebox & Loco Lights

• DCC

• AUTO

• FREEWARE

• ANY GAUGE

• No switch – senses motion & turns on!

• Turns off automatically 4 minutes after stop

• No pickup, wires or soldering – LED plugs in

• Fit in brake vans, coaches, loco, wagons etc

• Runs for ages on small button battery

• LEDs and battery included

Mimic Switches & Lights

• DCC

• ANY GAUGE

• Make a mimic panel to control LayoutLink items

• Link to Track Sensor or Sensor Signals to show occupancy & signal status

• Single wire to control Layout Link products

• Link to Sensor Signals to switch route indicators on/off

Signal Kits

• DCC
• OO HO Every kit includes the signal head, aluminium post and base plus detailing kit
• Low cost – adapt to your own design
• Control by switches or signal controller
• LEDs are prefitted to a narrow PCB

One-Touch DCC™ Signal Controllers
DCC
ANY GAUGE

• Control LED and semaphore signals by DCC
• Easy screw terminals – no soldering
• Easy to set up & use –No CV programming!
• Can sync to other points & signals

Automatic Sensor Signals

• DCC

• WIRE-FREE

• OO HO

• Detects train and changes signal automatically

• Use on its own & signal changes back to green after time

• Link to other SS for fully automatic block signalling

• Can be used on both DC & DCC

Automatic Coach Lighting

• DC & DCC

• AUTO

• WIRE-FREE

• OO HO

• Easy to fi t in seconds – no wiring!

• No switch – senses motion & turns on!

• Turns off automatically 4 minutes after stopping

• No pickups so works on regular DC & DCC

• Traditional warm white or modern cool white

• Also with tail light, sparks or door light effect

• Lights stay bright & constant with no flickering

• Fits most OO/HO coaches and maybe cut down

SFX Sounds for Trains

• WIRE-FREE

• DC & DCC

• AUTO

• Easy low-cost sound that works on any railway

• Easy to fi t in seconds – no connections

• No switch – senses motion & turns on!

• No pickups so works on regular DC & DCC

• Self-contained – built-in speaker & battery (included)

• Tiny capsule: 25mm x 20mm x 12mm approx

• Fit capsule into loco, tender, wagon, coach…

• Real recorded sounds – Steam & Diesel etc

Track Sensor

• DC & DCC

• OO HO

• Links to a Mimic Switch to show occupancy

• Links to a Sensor Signal to change block section

• Change Semaphore Signals automatically (with SC300)

• Trigger Level crossing when train approaches

• Power from 12-16v smooth DC or DCC

Trafi c Light – Ready Assembled

• DC & DCC

• OO HO

• Power from 9-16v DC, DCC or 9v battery – 2 Wire connection

• Realistic standard UK sequence and timing vary randomly

• Complete with Plastic head and Aluminium post

SEE WWW.TRAIN-TECH.COM OR CONTACT DCP FOR A FREE COLOUR BROCHURE
www.Train-Tech.com
See our website, your local model shop or contact us for a free color brochure DCP Microdevelopments, Bryon Court, Bow Street, Great Ellingham, NR17 1JB, UK Telephone 01953 457800 • email sales@dcpmicro.com • www.dcpexpress.com

References

• DcpExpress.com is for sale | HugeDomains
• DcpExpress.com is for sale | HugeDomains
• Train Tech - Model Railway Electronics | Gaugemaster

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>