RR-CirKits - 4
SIGNALMAN LIGHTING FEATURES
One of the unique features of the SignalMan and its near relative,
the LocoNet Control Point (LNCP), is the ability to set up special
lighting effects using LEDs. Four options are available: Fade, H2
Flicker, Tumble Down, and Strobe. A fifth special effect (off) simply
gives LEDs a basic on/off mode. Default for all effects is off.
Fade:
Allows LEDs to mimic the appearance of a prototypical
signal lamp with both a fade-up during turn on and a gradual
decrease in brightness while transitioning from on to off.
H2 Flicker:
Emulates a searchlight signal’s unique red flash during
transition. US&S H-series searchlight signals include a color vane
which rocks back and forth in front of the lamp mechanism. The
red lens is located in the center position between the green and
yellow lenses. When observing a searchlight changing between
green and yellow, there is a brief flicker of red as the lens vane
rocks between those two colors. This effect is especially notice-
able at night.
Configuration of multiple heads on the same mast using the H2
Flicker is also possible.
Tumble Down:
This mimics the motion of a semaphore armmov-
ing from a permissive indication to stop, a unique feature found
in B&O color position light and Pennsy position light signals.
Combined with the fade effect, this can be particularly effective in
establishing a prototypic signal appearance.
Strobe:
Not only can the ports on these boards be used to drive
lineside signals, they can be used for special lighting effects of sce-
nic items such as lights on a radio tower, emergency vehicle, or sim-
ply as an attention-getting device on the fascia of your railroad. The
strobe speed and length can be set in the decoder programming.
JimDuncan used the strobe lighting feature on the live steam rail-
road project to bring attention to the employee call lamp on the
side of a building at a control point.
MRH-Jun 2014
