Railfan Technology > Crossing Bell Help

Hey guys,

I wasn't really sure what forum to post this under, so sorry if this thread is misplaced.

I recently acquired a brand new Safetran electronic crossing bell and I was trying to wire it up so I can hear it work. The inputs look pretty simple, a positive and a negative wire. However, I tried hooking them up to the terminals of a 12V Model Railroad transformer and it didn't work. Right when I switched the transformer from ON to OFF I heard the bell (loudly) for a split second. I repeated and only for the split second while turning it off did the bell chirp. I tried holding the switch between ON and OFF and nothing happened then.

Can anyone recommend me a better method for getting this bell to work? It should be simple, I just have zero electrical experience.

I took a picture of the bottom of my bell, the two wires can be seen.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Davis

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Monitor the ACTUAL voltage that the model train transformer is supplying to
the crossing bell, using a voltmeter. I'm guessing here, but possibly the crossing bell is
pulling more current than the transformer can provide. Just as you turn it on
or off, the current drain may be less so it does work momentarily.

Another possibility is that there is too much ripple (pulsation at the AC line frequency) in the output
of the transformer. They're not well filtered; some, not at all.

All that's if the bell IS supposed to run at 12V (the Safetran manual I refer to below to says 9-16.5V, 12V nominal
for a "A80301"); if not, you'd have to get some other power supply.

If it IS supposed to be 12V, you could try a car battery. The peak current draw is about one ampere
for the one referred to by the user manual. A charged car battery can handle that easily, and since it
is a DC source, it will have no ripple whatsoever.

User's Handbook, Safetran Electronic Bell (A80301), January 2005



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/12 07:25 by GenePoon.

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Thanks for your help Gene! I do believe it is 12V, thats what the person I bought it from stated. In terms of a car battery does it matter what kind/quality I buy? Any recommendations for a cheap one that would work?

Thanks!

Davis

strench707 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for your help Gene! I do believe it is
> 12V, thats what the person I bought it from
> stated. In terms of a car battery does it matter
> what kind/quality I buy? Any recommendations for
> a cheap one that would work?


For test purposes? Use the one in your car. Just don't run it down
so you can't start the car any more.

If you DO use a car battery, be sure you'll have a way to keep it charged.

OR for temporary or occasional use, you could try two 6-volt lantern
batteries in series. Available at hardware stores.

The one described in the manual you downloaded from the link provided, IS 12-volts.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/12 14:14 by GenePoon.

I have a General Signals Electronic Crossing Bell.

http://www.generalsignals.com/electronic_crossing_bell.htm

The current draw at 12v (which I confirmed) is only 150ma or 0.15A. I use a simple "wall wort" power supply rated at 12v DC (anything between 8 and 16 would work) with a current rating of 250ma or 0.25A. Your local Radio Shack or any electronic hobbyist type store would have something like this.

Certainly a lot easier than a car battery.

daniel



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/12 15:28 by 251F.

The Safetron Electronic Bell (A80301) User's Handbook which can be downloaded from the
link in my first response says:

Power Consumption:

0.5A (0.9A peak) @ 13.2V
0.6A (1.0A peak) @ 9V
0.5A (0.9A peak) @ 16.5V

...which is certainly within the capabilities of most wall-warts, but
substantially higher than what you quote for your General Signals Electronic
Crossing Bell.

However, the manual does not specify a differing current drain for the four
versions of the Safetron bell that can be ordered:


Sound__________Product Number

Loud, Fast______8000-80301-0001
Loud, Slow______8000-80301-0002
Soft, Fast_______8000-80301-0003
Soft, Slow_______8000-80301-0004

A Radio Shack 273-316 will do the trick for $22. Just cut off the connector and strip the wires. Be sure to observe the correct polarity, which will take a voltmeter to determine.

Also, just FYI, 1000 mA = 1 Amp.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/12 08:39 by radar.

Find a nice 0.5A or greater, 12v power supply. Car batteries are dangerous in the house. They can leak acid and emit hydrogen gas when charging, and a short will start a fire quickly. You can buy a wall wart at the swap meet, or electronics store for a few bucks.

You can test it on your car battery though to make sure it works. Just be careful not to short anything.

Scott

Scott Schifer
Torrance, CA
TinyTrains Website

If you absolutely, positively have to use a rechargable battery in the home, get an absorptive glass matt battery. You can find 6v and 12v models at Home Depot in the home security section. They're also usefull to rebuild UPS for your computer. A pair of 6V 4AH batteries should run you about 20 bucks, and with a 1/2 amp power draw, that should power your crossing bell for 8 hours. Theoretically. :-)