TMCC control over pairing of switches between parallel tracks

[fastrackjonnie]

I have been unable to operate switches in pairs using FasTrack switches with Lionel's Accessory Switch Controllers.  The switches stutter and reluctantly close if at all.

I have been told that this problem would not exist if I used Lionel SC-2's instead, particularly if the switches were independently powered.

I would prefer to use track power because it reduces the amount of wiring that my large, FasTrack, temporary layout would need.

Any advice?

FTJ

[A&Y Ry]

In the past I never had much luck or realized any efficiency in powering turnouts or their control modules with track power.

I have 7 ASCs controlling my turnouts, including two sets of double crossovers, from Cab 1 and use auxilliary power for both the control modules and the turnout motors.

Hopefully someone else has a different experience and can advise and help you---just never worked well for me on track power!

[Yog-Sothoth]

You can do it without too much messy wiring on a floor layout.

What I do is attach the SC-2 or ASC to a piece of wood, and add some terminal strips. Take the aux power (hot line) you're powering the SC-2/ASC with, and distribute the auxilliary hot along with the control lines on the terminal strips. So for each switch you have three outputs (power, thru, curved).

Then use some 3-conductor wire to run from the "control center" to each switch. I use a cable with three 22-gauge wires in a grey plastic sheath, but you could use ribbon cable as well. It's no more messy than running the control wires alone.


If you want to get fancy, use Molex-type plugs to connect everything. You can then connect and disconnect switches in seconds when you're putting up or taking down the layout. I have the SC-2 mounted inside a building with the Molex plugs mounted in the building's walls. Then I just plug my cables into the building and I'm good to go.

Yog

[chuck]

Where you pairing the switches by giving them the same ID or where you setting up a route and having them fire sequentially?

BTW, I really like Yog's method for dealing with floor layouts.  Molex conectors and terminal strips.  I've started using the terminal trips of the Chrismas layouts, never thought about Molex to make snap connections.  Neat!

[fastrackjonnie]

Thanks for the quick response.  I too like the idea of a third power wire, distributed by terminal strips.  I've had experience using molex connectors and that also seems like a good idea.

You asked how I addressed the switches.  I used jumper wires between the thru, out, and ground connections, and gave the switch pair a single address.  The idea was to cause the pair to operate in unison when the Cab-1 switch number was addressed.  On a test layout, using track power, this concept worked very well.  Unfortunately, when I wired up 5 switch pairs plus 14 individual switches, I experienced erratic results.  It appeared that the switches were operating in sequence and very slowly.  Sometimes they would not operate at all.

I wired the 5 pairs with independent power, using 18 ga. wire, but had the same results.  Finally I gave up and wired each switch separately.  They operate great, even using track power.  Unfortunately, I have had two occasions where a train going the opposite direction on a parallel track turned into another train going the opposite direction.  I don't believe this would happen if the switches were paired.

[fastrackjonnie]

Yog:

Thanks for the great suggestions.  I have a control board that is on the living room floor that is the base for the various transformers, powerhouses, ASC's, etc. and I run the wires from that center to the track, tucking the wire under the track whereever possible.  I've been using the 8-position terminal strips from Radio Shack and they are pretty bulky, especially for 22 ga. wire.  Can you suggest another type and/or source?

FTJ

[Yog-Sothoth]

There may be slightly smaller terminal strips available from an electronics house like Mouser or Digikey. But I usually crimp a spade connector onto the edge of the wire for my connections to a terminal strip.

You can also try a "eurostyle" terminal block, which has cages that trap the wire. These are the white ones that look like a row of little tubes connected together. Radio Shack carries these too, but last time I went to buy some the local store said they were being discontinued. Not many electronics DIYs these days I guess.



Here are some photos of my arrangments:

An ASC mounted with distributed power and three-conductor switch cables. These are the "Eurostyle" terminal strips:



An SC-2 mounted inside a building with the same arrangment; looks tidy from the outside:



But the horror is concealed within:



Installed on the 'layout':



Yog