can 022 swtiches turn track on and off?

[stuartmit]

surprising no one ever mentioned it before; I know a solenoid is not identical to an electro magnet, but in both cases there is a coil which is energized; the question is does the relay coil of the relays I have draw too much current; I once wired a circuit which as I recall had a relay in series to the track so that when the train was running in the block, it completed a circuit throught the relay, and the relay sucked up so much current that the loco wouldn't run. it's possible that Iaam in error in my recall, and the relay was in parrallel, and maybe that was the problem, but it didnt work.  I know the simple solution is to get a relay and install it across the terminals of the 022 switch an see what happens!   tks

[ADCX Rob]

stuartmit

Can you do that as well with a relay?

Yes, your proposal is solid.

[stuartmit]

I know you can use 022 switches to turn on and off a 151 semaphore solenoid. The energized  solenoid draws power through the coil of the switch machine in one position or the other. Can you do that as well with a relay? if so, the relay can then of course control the contact postitoin to open and close the circuit to a stretch of track adjacent to the switch (or anywhere else on the layout). The lilely use for me would be to control a siding, so the period of energizing the relay coil would be brief. I have a whole bunch of relays I have used, so I'm ready to try. I wire my layout in the same way i might have in 1955, and that's my level of comfort.  Any comments?