I am considering building a new control panel for my railroad. I am using the Atlas controllers. They work good but I would like to find something smaller perhaps even lighted to indicate which way the turnout is lined. Is there anything available. Thanks for any ideas.
Good evening William. I use single pole double throw momentary toggle switches. on-off-on. From Radio Shack down here. #36-220 mini is on the side. With these I use green and red led's Also from Radio Shack. Green part #276-0271. I don't have a red on to give you the # but it matches the green. The wiring is pretty simple, and I have a diagram, but i'll be darned if I can find it. I'll post it if I find it.
Have fun
Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad. We know where you are going, before you do!
Thank you. Exactly what i was looking for.
Hi williamsb
Have a look at Atlas web site they also do a lighted point switch might not be suitable but have a look.
Failing that Jaycar or Radio Shack do, on on sprung to centre off switches
and others that will be suitable for MRR point control
regards John
I use momentary pushbuttons that are available online. I paid $0.50 each and I've installed them on my panels. The'ye miniature in size. Places like LED-switch and all Electronics carry them. Just make sure you but they ones that are ALWAYS open and when you push them it completes the circuit. I bought the wrong ones ONCE and watched 6 Atlas machines go up in smoke. I have no financial interest in either company.
Neal
A brass screw on the control panel. Just tap it with a test lead pefore the train runs over the switch.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
This assumes that you have a schematic track layout on your panel, that you put the controls on the panel itself. and that you use 2-coil switch machines.
Implant a 3-5 amp capacity normally off pushbutton at the point where the two track lines meet. Then install an inexpensive toggle (DPST, or DPDT if you need to power a hot frog) between the diverging track lines. Switch machine power goes to the pushbutton, then to the toggle, which directs it to one coil or the other. The direction the toggle is thrown tells you which track was last selected.
The toggle doesn't have to be a high power type, since it will never make or break the circuit. The pushbutton has to be robust, since twin coil machines have a high current draw.
An alternative method substitutes studs (brass machine screws) in the diverging track lines, with power being applied through a probe (I use a large stereo plug.) The studs are wired directly to the appropriate switch machine coils. This is the absolutely least expensive way to power switch machines.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
LION build simple control board
Well, is *simple* for a LION
Indicators show location of trains, not positon of switches. Position of LEVERS show position of turnouts.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hi Broadway Lion.
You have a very strange idea of simple I have seen diagrams and photo's
of what runs your system, and simple err no I don't think so.
Well made definatly but simple no.
A guy named Ken Stapleton makes an miniature electronics board that includes a toggle and circuitry to drive a twin-coil machine and two LEDs to indicate the postion of the points.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/Index.html
I have a few of these and they work fine. As I recall, you can buy them assembled or unassembled.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.