Powering Tortoise Switch Machines

[cwclark]

here is my website to give you an idea how to install the Tortoise..i didn't wire it for the DP/DT use but there are some helpful hints here when readying them and connecting them to a turnout...once the first picture is up, click the right arrow and it will take you through all the steps with pictures and explanations...hope this will help also...chuck
http://community.webshots.com/photo/137793353/245295018tpquTj

[howmus]

Thanks! In series they will be. [bow]

Ray

[SteelMonsters]

A 220 ohm 1/4 watt resistor would divide the voltage. One resistor per tortious or it will heat up.

Since the tortoises are throwing together, you can put them in series. The voltage will divide giving each 8 volts which is fine. Tortoises throw 3 seconds @12 volts and 5 seconds @5 volts. Because of the throw wire, the force is not reduced at all.

[howmus]

Thanks Randy. The 16v is DC from an Aristocraft transformer (the only item that will work for me from their HO Train Engineer system I bought and immediately regretted. It would probably work in most layouts but isn't right for mine.) I can probably use a resistor to lower the voltage. You are right in assuming it is a crossover and the leads will have to be connected opposite to correctly power the Tortoises.

Ray

[rrinker]

Tortoise switch motors need DC power, the 16v for accessories output on your power pack is AC. And 16v is a bit too high for them. Use the track output on your old DC pack and set the speed control to about half way, that should be plenty of voltage to run the Tortoise.
As for hooking the track power to the frog, there are two sets of contacts on the Tortoise. There is a diagram of this in the instructions included with the Tortoise, and I believe you can view the instruction on Circuitron's web site as well. Each rail would connect to one of the poles, and the common or wiper terminal would connect to the frog. If you wire the wrong ones you'll get a short when you run through the switch. If this happens just reverse the rail connections.
To power both froma common toggle, just connect both Tortoise motors' pin 1 and pin 8 to the same DPDT switch. If you are talking about a crossover, they will most likely have to be wired opposite - Pin 1 of one Tortoise and Pin 8 of the other one to one side of the DPDT switch, and Pin 8 of the first one and Pin 1 of the second one to the other terminal of the DPDT switch. If one of them moves the wrong way, just swap the Pin 1 and Pin 8 connections.

--Randy

[howmus]

I am currently changing over to DCC from DC (HO) and have decided to rip up my remaining code 100 track and switches and replace it with code 83. I have ordered a pair of Tortoise machines for use in places where my arms have become too short over the last 20 years. I plan on powering the machine itself with 16 volt DC that is used for other accesories on the layout. I also want to power the frogs from the Tortoise with the AC current DCC. Can this be done? I can't find any reference to this. Also can the two Tortoise machines be hooked together electrically to throw both switches at the same time. I would seldom if ever need to set the two switches seperately and it would be easier to link them together on one DPDT switch.

Thanks, Ray