RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion

Need Help Writing Program for AM-1S

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William Brillinger:
Tim is correct, the AM-1S is not for Turnouts. Although the manual does not say so, the AM-1S webpage on Rings website does say "The AM-1S is not for use with turnouts.  Please use AM-1 for turnout control."

Jimk33:
Thanks for the responses.  Apparently, I was overloading the AM-1S.  After fiddling with it I connected my VOM and measured an output of about 14V from the common to the Output5 terminal.  I tried that before and it didn't work, but maybe that's a programming issue.  I have 6 grain of wheat bulbs which are supposed to draw about 30ma, but also a couple of only lights I inherited from my father-in-law which appear to be the culprits.  The ammeter on my VOM wasn't working so I connected an LED with a resistor and it worked fine.  I'll need to either replace the incandescent lights with LEDs or hook in a low amp relay.

As far as programming, for future reference, I discovered that you can't just take the Caboose program for the LM-2 and install it on the AM-1S.  When you start a program RailPro Assistant requires you to choose which type of device you are programming for, and I couldn't find a way to go back an change it.  However, the caboose program did show me what steps were needed, so thanks for the suggestion.

I now have a toe hold on programming and can experiment from there.  Thanks for the help.


Jim

William Brillinger:
Glad we could help Jim!

Alan:

--- Quote ---I'll need to either replace the incandescent lights with LEDs or hook in a low amp relay.
--- End quote ---

To keep costs at rock bottom you could simply use a NPN transistor of sufficient current rating and a resistor in place of a relay. Here are 20 transistors for $0.99 that will handle up to 2 amp load.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20PCS-2SC2655-Y-C2655-Y-2A-50V-NPN-TO-92L-DIP-transistor-s-/232192544323?hash=item360fc10e43:g:7VkAAOSwjDZYaQaI

Jimk33:
Alan,
I'm a mechanical engineer so bear with me.  There are 2 wires from the lighting circuit, and 2 wires from the AM-1S, that's 4 wires.  But there are only 3 connections to your NPN circuit.  Which wire goes where, and where does the 4th wire go?  My first thought was a common ground, but can you connect the common from the AM-1S to the negative of an independent power supply?

Also, how do you determine what resistor to use?

Thanks,
Jim

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