I've posted some pics of my service facility.. which will use tortoise motors..... I've been getting ready to wire mini toggles (dpdt) (with LEDs) for controlling them.. then ran across Berrett Hill touch toggles... a bit pricy.. but saves a lot of labor soldering and making panels... anyone had any experience with them... ? thanks joeg
I've got nothing intelligent to say, but for those, like myself, who are curious what you are talking about: http://www.berretthill.com/controls/
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
thanks Henry for the link... I've been reading up on them... I have 8 turnouts.. which would cost me approx $90 for the setup... I already have mini toggle switches and leds... so its the idea to spend the money.. was wondering about support if a toggle breaks.. or if the electronic base gets fried... its easy to troubleshoot mini toggles and leds.. and replace if necessary is relatively easy..
its just curious is anyone has any experience with them... the company is going to be at the Amherst Mass show in a few weeks which I'm going to...and wanted to do a little research before then......
Quick search found this on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v5H84xmlpM
if you can also figure out route control that is the way to go.
Steve
ROAR!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Great setup... its bigger than my whole shelf layout... !!!
joegib I've posted some pics of my service facility.. which will use tortoise motors..... I've been getting ready to wire mini toggles (dpdt) (with LEDs) for controlling them.. then ran across Berrett Hill touch toggles... a bit pricy.. but saves a lot of labor soldering and making panels... anyone had any experience with them... ?
I've posted some pics of my service facility.. which will use tortoise motors..... I've been getting ready to wire mini toggles (dpdt) (with LEDs) for controlling them.. then ran across Berrett Hill touch toggles... a bit pricy.. but saves a lot of labor soldering and making panels... anyone had any experience with them... ?
Let me ask a few different questions:
The point I'm trying to make with these questions is that you should suit your turnout controls to your operating style. If you are doing switching type operations, why would you want any part of your operating controls tied to a central location? Wouldn't you want to be standing at the site of the switching doing everything there?
What that means is a walk-around control for controlling speed and direction of the locomotive. Toggle switch on the fascia approximately at the location of the turnout for the Tortoise (or reach in and throw manually). LEDs are unneeded if you can visually see the position of the turnout - in fact, I don't want to be looking down at the LEDs, I want to be looking at the layout - looking at my locomotive, the train, and the position of the turnout. If I'm using pick uncoupling, again no need to look anywhere but at the layout. If using DC, install the block switches where you can use them while looking at the layout.
Some people like being on the Star Trek bridge while watching their trains run. I prefer the role of the engineer, conductor, and brakeman acting directly in the layout.
Suit all the controls to the kind of operation you prefer.
Fred W
Those touch toggles look really interesting.
Below is my setup. Using Rix products CTC plates and switches purchased from Logic Rail Technologies. The control box was custom built. And the track diagram plate was made for us by CTCParts
The top row are my 6 layout turnouts. The other 2 CTC style plates control a station order board. And the 8 on/off switches control layout accesories (grade crossings, structure lights, air raid siren, oil well, etc....)
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Matt.. great looking control panel.. the CTC parts look terrific and prototypical... I'm looking at the Logic Rail site now to see what they offer... My control panel isn't started yet and I'm still trying to figure in my mind what would suit me best.. but love the photos.. nice job.. joeg
Fred... I appreciate the comprehensive considerations of what I'm building... some answers... It is entirely DCC... but the programming track I designed into the layout can be switched to test DC loco's if I need to...
The central shelf is just there to hold some static items away from the small aisle space... but I'm hooking up a walk around Digitrax throtle (via loconet) so that I can move around and control the engines...
I took your consideration of having switch controls on the facia.. and not in a central control panel... so I'm seriously considering that type of design..
I tend to be more active in taking the "conductor" view of running the layout.. but since its so small.. I can also consider having a central control panel that is still within sight of the locos.. I like building modeling rather than running a layout.. so I'm concentrating on more modelling items/scenes and may be more attuned at the "star trek" type of running the layout... since I don't have a switching yard.. their won't be much of car handling... mostly moving loco/diesels around for servicing... looking into how to setup scheduling cards, etc for how to run a service facility... but really appreciate the ideas and comments.. thanks joeg