Wiring semaphore signals - help
I wish to wire my Viesmann & Brawa semaphore signals. Simple wiring, no train control, just semaphore arms. I wish to use the green Fleischmann push-button boxes. HOWEVER, even though the EU and NEM seem to have "standarized" everything else, Fleischmann, Veismann & Brawa all seem to use different color codes for which wires connect to what! Is there a "standard," e.g., red = + / blue = -. Is brown "ground?" In essence, how do I "decode" the Viesmann wiring diagrams to attach to the trafo & Fleischmann push-button boxes? ANY help much appreciated.

George, to wire Vießmann signals to Fleischmann switches, you can use the following connexions: Blue wire with red sleeve - red terminal on switch ('stop' aspect) Blue wire with green sleeve - green terminal on switch ('go' aspect) Brown wire with diode - 0V AC or 'ground' (lighting) Yellow wire with diode - ~16V AC (lighting) Yellow wire - ~16V AC (assuming the side of the switch is connected to 0V AC or 'ground') Red wires - not used, tie up out of the way (these are for controlling track power in the section before the signal; the problem is it stops trains in both directions, so I leave them out) As a general rule brown seems to be AC ground or earth and yellow is the 'phase' or ~16 V. They connect to the AC terminals on your transformer; the same ones used to power lights or drive turnouts. Not sure if Brawa signals follow the same scheme, but their light bulbs use yellow and brown so they might. If you have an older Vießmann signal, there are only six wires and the colour scheme is different. I can explain the differences if necessary. HTH,

Thank you. Very helpful advice; now it makes sense. Following your logic, I assume that for the "uncoupled" semaphore with the three-button GFN box, I attach the blue wire with the yellow sleeve to the yellow tab on the box.

George, I haven't employed any triple-aspect signals yet, but what you say sounds logical. Have fun - the Vießmann signals are excellent IMHO.

I just bought some Viessmann semaphores in my recent trip to Germany. 4 main signals (single arm), 1 double arm main signal (synchronized movement of arms) and one 'advice' signal (i.e. the one with moving yellow disk). I judged them really excellent and worth the money (namely if compared with Italian light signals and their prices!): they are also easy to install and to connect. Only one drawback: instructions are in German but I now manged some words of it and the wiring scheme is clear enough to be understandable also withou knowing German. Anyway something in English (it's utopy to have it in Italian!) would be welcome... Andrea

No Italian, but you can find English instructions on their website http://www.viessmann-modell.com/en/aktuell/inhalt.php Use the catalog to find the signal you want then click on installation and it brings up a PDF of instructions in both German and English.

Andrea, Are you now happy with the instructions or would you like an English translation?