I purchased an Atlas turntable (the newer model), and I'm gonna wire up all but one of the tracks for it. Do I have to wire up a toggle switch for every single track? That's like 20 toggle switches, which will cost a bit... Is there any other way to turn the tracks off without an individual toggle switch for each track? I own a large collection of small steam I'm gonna put on the turntable, so I need to be able to power each individual track seperate from each other. Im using DC power by the way. If I do need to buy toggle switches, where should I get 'em cheap?
Thanks guys!
Yes, you'd need some way to cut power to each track and toggles would be the most straightforward way to handle it. You can find them pretty cheap on eBay. Usually like "ten for $7" cheap instead of $4 a piece over at the hardware store.
You could use a couple of rotary switches:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/2pcs-RS26-1-Pole-Position-12-Selectable-Band-Rotary-Channel-Selector-Switch/362523643461?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180124145912%26meid%3Dd6c14d3584264a9b818266d711304cf9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D382023334651%26itm%3D362523643461&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yes, I agree that a separate toggle (SPST) for each stall track is best. The turntable itself does not provide any power to the rails. You only need to wire a toggle to one rail of each track and the opposite rails may be wired together without toggles.
The inputs to the toggles and the common rails must, of course, come from the track bus so polarity will be correct, and watch the A and B stall track designations for the same reason.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Another option as long as you don't need adjacent tracks at the same time would be to use STDP switches similar to the kind that is in an Atlas Twin. Each pole controls one track but you would need to make sure to have a separate switch to power the turntable track. (If you have access to one, the Atlas wiring book is a good reference for wiring with that type of switch.)
That is how I wired the one on my old layout using Atlas Twins and terminal joiners.
hon30critter You could use a couple of rotary switches: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/2pcs-RS26-1-Pole-Position-12-Selectable-Band-Rotary-Channel-Selector-Switch/362523643461?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180124145912%26meid%3Dd6c14d3584264a9b818266d711304cf9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D382023334651%26itm%3D362523643461&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 Dave
That makes sense! Thanks for the reply!