How do I wire an Atlas No. 8 switch and a tortise switch machine for a DCC layout?
Does this help?
https://dccwiki.com/Turnout
— and for the operation (switching) of the points:
https://dccwiki.com/Turnout_Motors
Good luck, Ed
Kind of a vague question. If you just want the tortoise to switch the points, connect 12v power to pin 1 and 8 on the tortoise, wire it to a switch to reverse the throw and be done with it.
If you want to control panel lights, there a number of ways to do it. The wiring for that is easy if you understand what Im about to say. I cant post pics but this is what I do.
First, I use edge connectors to wire the tortoise pins:
Pin#1 12v, pin#8 12v, these two wires come from a dpdt switch
On the switch there are two rows of 3 pins. The corners get crosswired to each other and one set get 12v power as well, the two ctr pins go to the tortoise #1 and #8 respectively. This will cause the polarity to change and throw the points when the panel switch is moved.
Pin#2 gets jumpered to pin #7 and pin #3 gets jumpered to pin #6. #6 and #7 also go to a 12v source such as a block panel, this will power the internal spdt switches in the tortoise. Pins #4 and #5 get lights wired to them. I use leds with built in resistors and put them on the panel for route indication. I use red and green, pretty common color choice. After its all hooked up, when you throw the panel toggle switch the colors will alternate to show the route. I personally use 4 leds per tortoise for my panels so the is always positive green or red color indication. I will look in my gallery to see if there is a website that I got the diagram from and edit this post so you can have it.
Sorry, no site mentioned in the diagram I have. Also, with 4 leds, when you come off pins 4 and 5 on the tortoise, your leds will have be wired in series I think. Positive from one to negative of the other connect to #4, positive from one, negative from the other to pin #5. I hope this makes sense. Once youve done it a few times, its really a no brainer. Also, the leds dont have to go to a panel. They can go to a dwarf signal, a mast target or wherever you want the visual indication to be. Just make sure you have ebough wire to get it there. I use cat 5 or 6 phone cable. Its like 4 pairs of wires in the insulation and 24 or 28 gauge. Works great.
You can go on the Circuitron website and there you will find several diagrams on wiring the Tortoise to a turnout.
http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/INS/800-6000ins.pdf
Rich
Alton Junction