Wiring multiple Tortoise switch motors

[CPdoc]

Could someone give me a diagram (in simple terms) of how I would go about wiring 10 Tortoise switch motors on one layout. Need to know a reasonable power source and whether all motors are run off on bus feeder line and each runs through a toggle switch (DPST??) . How are the motors connected to each other or are they? Does each motor require its own power transformer.
Could you spell it out for me in a diagram please?
Layout is only 8 X 13 feet with centre operators pit. Most switch motors are within a 4 ft square area. Modelling HO using DCC.

Thanks ever so much.
Barry [e-mail]

[howmus]

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in here, but........ I am in the process of installing my first two tortoise switch machines and can give you some help. Item #1 A reasonable power source. Any DC Power Pack (12v) can be used. Be sure to use the DC outputs not the AC to accessories output. It is best to set the power pack to less than full output. They run better and are more prototypical at 6 to 8 volts. The information that comes with the tortoise also recomends using a Radio Shack wall wart DC transformer that delivers 9v. One of those at 500ma output can run something like 30 tortoise machines. Item #2 You can use a bus system to connect the DPDT (not DPST) toggles used to control the switch machines. The power is left on to the machines at all times so you do not use an On Off type of toggle. Item #3 You can run many tortoise machines on one transformer (see #1). Basically run power to the DPDT toggles, use a crossover (like an X) wiring the outside terminals of the toggles and then run power to the tortoise from the center terminals of the toggle. Use a seperate toggle for each toroise you operate (although I will be running two off the same switch in series from a 16 volt supply which runs all my DC accessories. Yes, I will be using a resistor in series for any other tortoise machines). Hope this helps!

[rrinker]

Howmus is right on. Somewhere on this board I made an attempt to draw a diagram using ASCII art.

The 'bus' for power runs in your control panel, not around the layout. As states, you need DPDT switches that are NOT center-off. Repeat - NOT center off. A typical label would say they are DPDT ON-ON (a center-off type will be labeled ON-OFF-ON)

Most of the wiring, you can do a lot easier at the bench BEFORE mounting the toggles in your panel. Each switch will have 6 terminals. 3 rows of two. For each switch, connect the top left witht he bottom right, and the top right to the bottom left. Liek Howmus says, it should look like an X. At this point the middle terminals have no connection.

Now, the order you connect them to the pwer supply really doesn't matter, because if the Tortoise runs the wrong way you can swap the wires as needed. However, for consistency, I will give a set example.

Connect the lower left terminal of each switch together like a chain. Continue this wire to the PLUS side of your power supply.
Connect the lower RIGHT terminal of each switch together, and continue this wire to the NEGATIVE side of your power supply.

Now run a pair of wires from the center terminals of each switch to the respective Tortoise, connecting them to pins 1 and 8 on the Tortoise. If the position of the Tortoise does not agree with your switch, just swap the wires on pins 1 and 8 so that flipping the toggle throws the turnout in the proper direction. My trick is to use a pair of clip leads at the Tortoise end so I can verify I ave it right before soldering any wires on.

--Randy

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Howmus is right on. --Randy

Thank You Randy! And I might add, tonight I hooked up my first two tortoise machines and they ran correctly (except I had to turn the DPDT toggle around so everything ran in the right direction) the first time. Compared to many switch machines, they were a breese to hook up. Randy, I think you may have been the one to tell me to run them in series from my 16v power pack in an earlier post.

CPdoc, jump in and get it wired, it really isn't that difficult. Assembly is very straight forward, just follow the directions that come with the product and you won't go wrong. Have fun with your trains!

[CPdoc]

My thanks to Ray and Randy for their most helpful explaination of hooking up Tortoise switch motors. I think it is very straight foreward now and I'll give it a go. Will let everyone know how I make out.

Barry[8)]

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by howmus

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Howmus is right on. --Randy

Thank You Randy! And I might add, tonight I hooked up my first two tortoise machines and they ran correctly (except I had to turn the DPDT toggle around so everything ran in the right direction) the first time. Compared to many switch machines, they were a breese to hook up. Randy, I think you may have been the one to tell me to run them in series from my 16v power pack in an earlier post.

CPdoc, jump in and get it wired, it really isn't that difficult. Assembly is very straight forward, just follow the directions that come with the product and you won't go wrong. Have fun with your trains!

Did I? I've found they don;t work too well in series, at least whent he voltage is only 9-12 volts to begin with - what happens is one moves until it stalls, thent he other runs. Kinda wierd. But it works. The problem with using a 16v supply - that works great for crossovers when you have 2 machines in series, but what about a single spur, there's no second machine to put in series. I wouldn't do that. Given that the 500ma Radio Shack supply will run 40 os the things, and is cheap enough, not much reason to use something with the wrong voltage. I rebuilt an old computer power supply to run mine - and other electronics as they get added, since now I have a ton of amps at 12v and 5v to use.

--Randy

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker
The problem with using a 16v supply - that works great for crossovers when you have 2 machines in series, but what about a single spur, there's no second machine to put in series. I wouldn't do that. Given that the 500ma Radio Shack supply will run 40 os the things, and is cheap enough, not much reason to use something with the wrong voltage. I rebuilt an old computer power supply to run mine - and other electronics as they get added, since now I have a ton of amps at 12v and 5v to use.

--Randy

Well.... The reason I decided to use the 16v transformer is because I was stupid enough to spend a lot of money on an AristoCraft HOTE system. As part of trying to get the d*&m thing to work, I also bought one of their 16v 5 amp power supplies. Since it was brand new and I had already shelled out the $$$ for it I am keeping it for dutes with DC. Rather than have several wall warts around the layout, I will have one DC buss similar to the DCC system and run all my DC stuff off that. At 16v it gives a good snap on the old switch relays that dot the layout (if they burn out, I will replace them with Tortoise Machines). For single Tortoise Machines and other equipment that needs to run at less than 16v, I will place resisters in line to drop the power. I think this will work out well for me. I would advise anyone who is just starting out, however, to go with your advise as it would be the best for most people. Thanks for your input!

[Medina1128]

In a related manner, will momentary on push buttons work with Tortoise machines, or do they need power at all times?

[rrinker]

They need power at all times.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Barry,

Do a search in the forum for "TrevorG" find the posting called "Many to one wire management". Hormus posted a great diagram of how to hook up 4 tortoise switches. I would imagine that 10 switches would be a mere extension of this.

Good Luck,
Trevor

[ARTHILL]

The link to the diagram is closed and I could use it as well.

[cwclark]

Randy,..i use center off DP/DT's and they don't hurt anything...even if the power is off the turnouts stay in place..anyway....send me an e-mail and i'll send you some drawings i drew in microsoft word of tortoise machine wiring...chuck

[rrinker]

Yes, center off will WORK - but they usually cost more than ones without center off. If you have them, by all means use them.
And yes, they do stay in palce with no power - if they didn't I couldn't runmy trains, since nothing is hooked up except the track power bus [:D]
I think it's CPdoc and ARTHILL that want the diagram. I'm pretty confident I know how to wire my Tortoises [;)]

--Randy