Help!!!
Too d------ cold to do anything else so ...
Peco turnouts may be a good turnout but they are difficult to work with. ..my view in any event.
Now the latest issue...power to the PL10 motors. Have wired the motor to an Atlas momentary turnout switch...middle feed to a common feed connected to both coils; outside feeds to each of the other two coils. For power...using my Digitrax DCC power supply measured at 12AC at the switch.
Nothing happens when I activate the switch...nada..no noise, nothing!
Peco instructions call for 16VAC...is the issue my 12V AC??? Or am I doing something else wrong?
Thnx for the help
Scotch & Water
First,you seem to have wired it wrong.The middle contact on your switch goes to your power supply outlet,then the two outer terminals are linked to one of the coils.And lastly,the common wire to both coils goes back to your other other terminal on your power supply.This should work.
Secondly,the PL-10 need a good source to activate.Most users use capacitive discharge units (CDU) for reliable operation.Twelve volts is definitely weak voltage and I'd guess that the wattage output of your power supply is also very low.
Thirdly,the Atlas momentary turnout switches are probably the worst mean of switching current that you could think of.They have a reputation for sticking and will likely do so with the current PL-10 need to work right.
PL-10 require more in terms of power but on the other hand,they are most reliable and will give you years of trouble free operations when installed properly.
Twin coil switch machine use a LOT of power! Why waste your DCC train power on a switch machine? You can us AC or DC power, but they do tend to work better on DC from my experimentation. I used to use a C/D unit fed by an old Troller power pack to power my switch machine. Note that said 'used to' - the issues with these type of switch machines seem to mean some kind of work on them every year. I went to Tortoise machines about 5 years ago and have had no issues ever since. Are you sending 12VAC or your DCC track voltage to the switch machine? With 12VAC, they should move if you have wired everything correctly. Nothing happens when you 'press' the square button on the Atlas control box?
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Peco confuses the issue a bit by putting 4 terminals on the switch machine. Two of the terminals on one flat face should be wired together. That's the common lead, typically wired to the center terminal of the Atlas button. It doesn't matter which face you do this to. The two on the other face are wired to the outer terminals on the button unit.
Atlas buttons - No. These are notorious for failure. I've got a few I never even bothered to install. Get single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) momentary-contact toggles instead.
Capacitive Discharge - Yes. Peco's do take more of a kick than Atlas machines. If the control button does stick, the CD circuit will protect the machine by limiting the current.
Reliability? I've had no problems with my Peco machines, after 3 1/2 years for some of them. I also am using a few Atlas machines that are close to 50 years old now. Yup, still flipping after all these years. To be fair, they were in boxes for most of that time, but this is the third layout for some of them and they are still running.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Reliability? I've had no problems with my Peco machines, after 3 1/2 years for some of them. I also am using a few Atlas machines that are close to 50 years old now. Yup, still flipping after all these years. To be fair, they were in boxes for most of that time, but this is the third layout for some of them and they are still running.
Ditto Mr B!! Exception, I do use the Atlas switches, and have had no problem with them - also some of them 50+ years old and have spent time in the boxes!!
Wiring for the Peco's is a PITA!! I use 2 of them on a double-slip switch, and I don't know what was worse, wiring them or digging a pair of holes in an existing layout for them!! I remember it took two 2-3 hr sessions, a couple of mis-wires, and a lot of colorful language that my wife says the neighbors heard!!