Totoise switch machines

[Anonymous]

Ok so I have an HO layout a whole slew od DPDT swiches from old layouts already cross wired and ready. I am using tortoise machines and Digitrax zephyr (which I will have ot add a booster to later). Can you wire straight from the two wires that come off the DCC or do I have to have some decoder wired in between the DCC wire and the toggle switch? I have Lionel Strang's book but its pretty vague and the only clear instructions with the tortoise at least clear ot me are the ones for DC which woul require me running another 50 feet of wire around my layout to feed power to all of the machines. I do not want ot do that i want a simple system without the spaghetti bowl mess of wire.

thanks

[Anonymous]

The simplest way to do it is to get stationary decoders to run the switch machines and control them from the Digitrax , and toss the DPDTs completely. But that can get a bit expensive, especially if you have a lot of powered switch machines, and you'll probably also need at least one DCC power booster.

The DCC wiring is AC, not DC, and I'm not sure if the Tortoise machines can use AC. If they can, then you can just run the power off the DCC power bus to the DPDTs. As you said, though, you'll probably need to add a booster, since the Zephyr's power output may not be enough to run all the switch machines and a couple of locos at the same time, especially if you have the Tortoise machines wired to "stall" and still draw power.

If they need a DC power source, then your only alternative to going all-DCC for the switches is a separate power supply and power bus for the switches.

[Anonymous]

You will need a separate DC power supply for the switch machines. I use an old DC transformer for the Tortoise machines exclusively. I run a separate bus wire for all the switch machines.

[nslakediv]

I believe tortoise machines require only 9-12 volts, be careful not to exceed that. I use simple answering machine power cords. only a couple of $ a piece. place them around the layout and run you leads of them.

[CP5170]

A power pack from an answering machine or any other device is sufficient to power 30 Tortoise switch machines. It is worthwhile to run a separate wire around the layout to power this machines.

Ken

[Anonymous]

So I can take one of those power supplies from an answerng machine how bout a portable cd player? I really didnt want to run another set of bus wires but I really dont want to invest a decoder per swithc I think I will have around 20 switches so that will get exspensive real quick.

thanks again

[cwclark]

I use an old Tyco toy train power pack and run DC to the DPDT switches...It 's easy to wire.... wire from the power pack to one DPDT switch..then jumper the wires you just wired to the next DPDT and yet to another and so forth until there is supply power to all 20 of your DPDT switches...after the supply power has been wired to all the DPDT switches then wire each individual tortoise to the middle terminals of each individual DPDT switch you desire to control that particular tortoise machine from..Chuck

[ClinchValleySD40]

To answer your question, you can purchase DCC stationary decoders to power the Tortoise and forget about running the extra wire. You can NOT power them directly from the DCC power bus, way too much power. Try the stationary decoders, they are really slick. You do NOT need another booster to power the Tortoise unless you have a boat load of switch machines, in which case you probably already have mulitple boosters.

[robengland]

you can do seriously cool stuff with the stationary decoders. I have Digitrax DS54s. I have a pushbutton on the fascia near the tortoise, with two LEDs showing turnout position, wired back to the DS54. This gives local control.

I am going to also connect another pushbutton and LEDs in parallel to a remote CTC panel. (I'm working on a 16-way ribbon cable from each DS54 to the remote CTC)

I can change the turnouts from a DCC throttle.

And we are working on a JMRI PC--based CTC panel controlling the turnouts by mouse-click on a graphical schematic

One day we'll do full automation for when visitors come

[ClinchValleySD40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robengland

you can do seriously cool stuff with the stationary decoders. I have Digitrax DS54s. I have a pushbutton on the fascia near the tortoise, with two LEDs showing turnout position, wired back to the DS54. This gives local control.

I am going to also connect another pushbutton and LEDs in parallel to a remote CTC panel. (I'm working on a 16-way ribbon cable from each DS54 to the remote CTC)

I can change the turnouts from a DCC throttle.

And we are working on a JMRI PC--based CTC panel controlling the turnouts by mouse-click on a graphical schematic

One day we'll do full automation for when visitors come

You got it, and they are so simple to hook up it's amazing. I'm using the NCE Switch It and I've been looking at the JMRI program. Looks pretty good, you'll have to give us some feedback on how it works out for you.

[Anonymous]

Could someone provide some pictures that show how basic wiring for the switches that control the Totoise switch machines. 1. non DCC 2. DCC
Thank you

[cwclark]

I don't have pictures, but the leads on the tortoise that make the machine operate are the two outer most connections.. #1 and #8 ....to wire it, you connect the two wires from the DC side of the power pack to the two outer most connection posts on the DPDT switch..from there, you add and CROSS two more wires, and connect them to the other two outer most connection posts of the DPDT...now , wire two more wires from the center posts of the DPDT switch to the #1 and #8 lead (the two outer most connections) of the tortoise switch machine...that's it!...Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

Thank you Chuck![8D]

[robengland]

The current layout is a 'learning" layout, so I'm trying both a traditional hardware track control panel (like the Sunset Valley ones that so inspired me as a kid) and a computer-based one, to compare.

I expect the computer one will be more flexible to change (of course) and easier to have remote access (dispatcher sits remote from the layout but I also want to be able to run it on my own). But a big panel with lots of real lights and buttons looks SO COOL.

I will indeed feedback what I learn. Maybe some news by Christmas :)

[ClinchValleySD40]

Originally posted by robengland

The current layout is a 'learning" layout, so I'm trying both a traditional hardware track control panel (like the Sunset Valley ones that so inspired me as a kid) and a computer-based one, to compare.

If you thought the Sunset Valley was an inspiring layout before, you should see the new Sunset Valley. I've had a chance to operate on it a few times and Bruce has really outdone himself.

Larry

http://www.youtube.com/user/ClinchValleySD40

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52481330@N05/

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/page/1/ppuser/8745/sl/c

 

 

 

 

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