Manufacturers of the IRDOT - the Infra Red Detection Of Trains device for model railways.
Welcome to Heathcote Electronics web site. We manufacture and sell an innovative range of electronic controls for model railways. The infra red range of circuit boards detect out of sight trains and automatically control signals and points. All vehicles are detected and no modification to track or rolling stock is necessary. Infra red detection functions in light or dark.
To access information about our products and also general information about using electronic components with model railways and signalling click on "Index" at the top right of this page.
The following videos show some of the things our circuit boards can do.
Here is a video of the Motorised Private Siding Kit to show what Servo Motors can do.
Servos have multiple uses on model railways and we manufacture boards which can easily set and control Servo Motors. See our servo page for videos of servos controlling a crane, a semaphore signal, a level crossing, a point and engine shed gates.
You can automate part or all of your model railway by using our Shuttles, Station Stops, Passing Loop and Storage Siding controllers. These units can provide adjustable acceleration and braking and operate starter signals and points. Most units can be combined to give complex operations.
Our signal system operates 2, 3 and 4 aspect signals with very straightforward wiring allowing complex junctions to be signalled realistically. The signals are controlled by the movement of the trains and works with both DC and DCC. We also stock colour light signals in both OO and N gauge. We also have controls for semaphore signals.
Popular lighting effects available are the Arc Welder, the Flickering Fire, the Lighthouse and the LED Flasher. The LED Flasher provides red aircraft warning lights as fitted to high structures as well as blue emergency lights.
To help with your wiring we have CDUs, Relays, Timers and a range of useful electrical components. You can show the setting of your points using LEDs on a control panel with our Point Indicator boards.
Our website aims to have a seperate page of information about each product and how to use it. There are also some pages of relevant background information. All pages are reached from the Index page. To access the index page there is a link at the top of every page.
Online ordering is available. Go to the Prices_and_Ordering page and press the 'click to buy' bar. This will take you to the shopping cart for the product you have selected.