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Azatrax TS5 Installation Manual

Railroad track signal control - diamond crossing
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Installation Guide
What it is:
The TS5 operates up to five trackside signals,
each with one or two heads, at a diamond crossing of two
single rail lines. One or two optional transfer tracks and one
signaled siding or branch line can also be included in the
signal system. Track configurations are listed below.
This is a special mode of operation of the TS5 controller,
enabled when configuration jumpers
(connector blocks, or "shunts") are
placed on the pair of "X" pins and on the
pair of "Z" pins. Other TS5 operating
modes can be selected by changing these
jumper settings. See the standard TS5 instructions, which
can be accessed at www.azatrax.com/cp
Trains are sensed by IR (infrared) sensors that are
independent of the room lighting. The TS5 does not require
the rail to be cut into isolated blocks and does not require
resistor wheel sets on the train cars.
Kit contents:
Circuit board
Four IR (infrared) light-emitting diodes (IR LEDs) with
white and orange (or red) leads
Four IR receivers with yellow and green (or blue) leads
Plastic mounting tubes for protection of the sensor leads and mounting support. Tubes are not essential for detector
operation and may be shortened or removed entirely. Use caution to avoid damaging the leads.
1,000 ohm resistors for interlocking functions (pg. 9)
The TS5 includes four sensor pairs for detecting trains at four locations. If a signaled branch line or siding is included in
the signaling, a 5th train detector is needed. It is designated D5 on the diagrams. An Azatrax MRD1-NV circuit can be
used as this 5th detector. See page 6 for connection instructions.
TS5 circuits may be linked to up to five
other Azatrax TSx series signal circuits
so that successive block signals along
the tracks will be properly coordinated.
Most types of LED block signals may be used. The TS5
automatically adjusts to the polarity of the signals (common
anode vs. common cathode).
All signals must be of the same polarity.
Limitations:
The TS5 only senses trains as they pass the
detectors. Two TSx's, one at each end of a block, tell each
other when a train enters or leaves a block, so they can
deduce when the block is occupied or clear. Because the
TS5 does not actually sense the physical presence of a train
in the block, it can give false indications if part of a train
becomes uncoupled and is left behind in the block, or if a train
enters or leaves the block by some route other than the two ends
that are monitored by TSx circuits. To compensate for this, see
'Interlocking Functions' on pg. 9.
© 2022 Azatrax.com
Azatrax Model Railroad Track Signal Control - Diamond Crossing
"TSx" refers to any Azatrax
circuit in the TS2, TS3, ... series.
TS5 installation guide - diamond crossing
Signals with incandescent bulbs need solid
state relays such as Azatrax model SSR6
between the TS5 and the signals.
See the Azatrax.com website for help.
This symbol represents a
signal facing trains that
are moving left to right.
This symbol represents a
signal facing trains that
are moving right to left.
The star symbol shows the location
of the designated IR sensor pair.
2-head signal
1-head signal
D1
pg. 1 of 10
TS5

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Questions and answers

Jim Vollmar
May 29, 2025

I was watching an online video of the TS5 operation. I noticed that it has a "Flashing Yellow" capability which I like. My question is do the TS2 and TS3 controllers have that same "Flashing Yellow" capability? From other videos for the TS2 and TS3 controllers, they only have Red, Yellow and Green signal indication, with no "Flashing Yellow". Is that correct? Thank you for your time and look forward to your response. Regards: Jim Vollmar 713-252-5663

Summary of Contents for Azatrax TS5

  • Page 1 1,000 ohm resistors for interlocking functions (pg. 9) The TS5 includes four sensor pairs for detecting trains at four locations. If a signaled branch line or siding is included in the signaling, a 5th train detector is needed. It is designated D5 on the diagrams. An Azatrax MRD1-NV circuit can be used as this 5th detector.
  • Page 2 Reverse (R) position. transfer T2 These two turnouts should operate in unison. When one is lined for the transfer, so should the other. © 2022 Azatrax.com TS5 installation guide - diamond crossing pg. 2 of 10...
  • Page 3 Some electric switch machines such as Tortoise, Cobalt and Kemtron have built-in contacts. If your switch machines do not have built-in contacts, a relay can be connected to the switch machine. Relays for this purpose are available from Azatrax, see azatrax.com Manual switch throws with electrical contacts are available from Caboose Industries, BluePoint and others.
  • Page 4: Power Supply

    White wire to 'X' for across-track mode blue or green wire from the IR receiver to terminal 1F. Now, how you connect the white and yellow wires to the TS5 will determine whether the D1 detector will operate in 'Across-Track' or 'Reflective' mode.
  • Page 5: Sensor Troubleshooting

    TS5 may also be used for the MRD1-NV. Sensor Troubleshooting: With trains clear of all sensors, the detector LEDs on the TS5 should be off. If any LED is on, correct the false sensing condition. To fix false sensing for Across-Track mode: 1.
  • Page 6 4A: A jumper across this pair of pins enables four aspect signaling (clear / advance approach / approach / stop). Removing the 4a jumper selects three aspect signaling (clear / approach / stop). Signal Connections The following types of signals may be used with the TS5. Single-head signals connect to "upper" terminals. green green...
  • Page 7: Operation

    Operation When power is turned on, the TS5 does not know if a block is occupied or not, because a train may have been added or removed from the track while power was off. The signals will show 'approach' (yellow) (or red for 2-aspect signals).
  • Page 8 If a TS5 link is not connected to another Azatrax TSx circuit down the track, that track operates in a timed mode. The track beyond the signal becomes a 'virtual' block. When a train passes the signal and enters the virtual block, the signal shows a 'stop' aspect (red) to indicate the virtual block is occupied.
  • Page 9 Approach slow means the track ahead is clear, but the next signal is 'diverging approach.' Be prepared to pass the next signal at a 'slow' speed. approach approach The next signal must be controlled by an Azatrax TS3 or TS5, and linked to this TS5. medium slow © 2022 Azatrax.com TS5 installation guide - diamond crossing pg.
  • Page 10 To end the test sequence early at any time, hold down the test button until the on-board Use a non-conductive tool LEDs stop flashing. to press the test button. When the on-board LEDs stop flashing, the TS5 is back to normal operation. © 2022 Azatrax.com TS5 installation guide - diamond crossing pg. 10 of 10...