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another quick tortois question

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  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Guelph, Ont.
  • 1,476 posts
Posted by BR60103 on Saturday, June 25, 2005 10:35 PM
Bob: you should be OK as long as the switched section is just the frog, not a long passing siding or something beyond.

--David

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:53 PM
The contacts are only rated to SWITCH 1 amp. They can carry much more. Plus there can never be more than one loco on a switch frog at a time. Somewhere on the net is a quite from the owner of Circuitron with regard to this - basically, don't worry about it. You could parallel the two sets of contacts if you don't need any kind of feedback indication. If you want panel indicators for switch position, just put LEDs in series with the motor drive, no resistor required. Less wiring than running another set of wires back from the contacts on the Tortoise.

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Thursday, June 23, 2005 10:38 PM
Locomotive current draw varies. The best way to check would be to wire an ammeter into a circuit and test ALL of your locos. If the current draw is below 1 amp, you're ok. Don't forget, that the current draw goes up depending on how many cars you're pulling.
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • 38 posts
another quick tortois question
Posted by rtesta on Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:54 PM
got to bother you with another simple tortois question, I actually got a few now and noticed, or maybe someone out there told me first, that the aux contacts can handle 1amp max, i plan on using the aux contacts to route power to the frogs etc, seems a common approac and i dont want to use relays yuk!
i also plan on using DCC with sound,
Question is, assuming all is working well, ie. no shorts, how much current does an average loco with sound pull? i am assuming since you only have one loco on the turnout/frog at a time weather or not in a consit doesn't really matter...
am i ok ??
thanks again for the help, bobt

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