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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by In training .....I am electrically challenged I still have the problem. I need to auto mate my turnouts to switch the points to the proper direction when a train arrives from the frog side of the turnout, thus making the points point in the right direction. Well I bought some reed switches which are rate far higher than the votlage that comes from the transformer and the reed swiches fuse and then burn up my atlas snap motors, Since I am so ellectrically challenged I am hoping that there is someone out there that could tell exactly what I should buy and explain it in such a nuntechnical manner that my brain could absorb and use the info. I am hoping that someone out ther has done this and can really baby sit me through it by telling what to buy and how to install. As usual your help is greatly appreciated, Thanks JOn. P.S. runing Dc[/quote] You first have to learn basic electronics and electrical work. Buy the Atlas wiring book to start. You should know things about diodes, resistors and capacitors and the properties of electricity. It can be done, *but there is no device that you can buy off the shelf that will do all what you want to do. And it will be limited to one trafic pattern. If you don't know how to make printed circuits, it will be very costly (over $220 w/o power supply) to buy the devices. You have to know how they work to make them work together. If you can't, it's money wasted. You need three detection circuits that are single direction, such as Circutron DT-3 @ $22 each, for each turnout. That would cost $132 for two turnouts just for the detectors. Also a Capasitor Discharge Unit (CDU) to prevent burning up the turnout solenoid, for each turnout, such as the Circutron Snapper @ $30 each X 2 = $60 And possibly a relay for each direction of throw. About $5 each X 6 = $30 If you don't already have one, a separate 14 -18 volts, 2 amp power supply ($?) That would work for a passing track, but if this is for a reverse loop, you will also need a reversing circuit such as the Circitron AR-1@ $42each (MRC reversing unit will NOT work with DC) and a much more complicated wiring scheme. Basically the detection unit connects to a relay, which triggers the turnout solenoid (like flipping a switch) with power coming from the CDU. *.... but there is no device that you can buy off the shelf that will do all what you want to do. CORRECTION. Maybe there is! I overlooked Train Tronics. They make a [url="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/723-601"] automatic revesing unit[/url] and a [url="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/723-602"]automatic turnout control[/url]. I don't know anything about them like what it doesn't include or how to hook it up, but it comes with instructions. About $80 for both.
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