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Train Master wrote: jeffrey-wimberly wrote: I use momentary center off DPDT switches to control my turnouts. Each DPDT controls two turnouts. this is a good design here considerin i did some of the work on it. its simple and dependable
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: I use momentary center off DPDT switches to control my turnouts. Each DPDT controls two turnouts.
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: I use momentary center off DPDT switches to control my turnouts. Each DPDT controls two turnouts. They're wired like this: When switch A is turned on, power goes to DPDT side corresponding to A. Likewise for switch B. Only have the ON/OFF turned on for the turnout you want to trip. If their both on, both turnouts will trip. It's very simple to wire and operate. More turnouts can be put onto each DPDT using a little ingenuity.
I use momentary center off DPDT switches to control my turnouts. Each DPDT controls two turnouts. They're wired like this:
When switch A is turned on, power goes to DPDT side corresponding to A. Likewise for switch B.
Only have the ON/OFF turned on for the turnout you want to trip. If their both on, both turnouts will trip.
It's very simple to wire and operate. More turnouts can be put onto each DPDT using a little ingenuity.
David Parks I am the terror that flaps in the night!
thanks everyone..
i found spdt switches that spring back to center off.. so i am set.. and now that you all got me straightened out about the one wrong wire i should be having my turnouts firing tonight!
Another vote for momentary-contact toggles. It's particularly important when you're using under-table switch machines. If you've got plain center-off toggles, sooner or later you will burn out a switch machine, and it will be a pain in the caboose to replace it. Take a look at on-line places like www.allelectronics.com for the toggles. They're about 50 cents each for the miniature ones.
I also second the suggestion on the capacitive discharge unit, or CDU. This will give a bigger "kick" to the machines initially to throw the turnouts better, and then it will protect the machines by limiting the current going through them. I built mine for a few dollars in parts from Radio $hack. If you're "afraid" of building your own circuits, this is the perfect small project to get over that fear. It's only a few resistors and capacitors, and one diode bridge if you want to feed it AC instead of DC. Or, you can go buy a unit like a Snapper.
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In short : No. The wiring should be done as follows...
When you buy the SPDT (center off) switches, be sure to get the ones that do spring back to the OFF position. (IF they exist, they might be labeled as "normal OFF".) If you plan to rely on people quickly snaping the switch back to the OFF position, you can also plan on replacing the Atlas motors on a regular basis. Murphy's Law dictates that someone will either forget or accidentally knock the switch on and burn out the motor.
If you can't find such switches, you will need a momentary "normal OFF" switch wired in series with the wire coming from the center terminal of the motor (ie: between the center terminal of the motor and the power source).
An alternate option is to install a capacitor discharge unit (CDU) (instead of the mometary "normal OFF" switch) which will only allow a short burst of power to be sent to the motor.
I am using these same machines to operate turnouts on my N-scale layout. However, I am using SPDT "on-on" switches in combination with a momentary "normal OFF" switch. I wire them exactly as I described above.