wireing a tortoise?

[donhalshanks]

To Gary UK: I enjoyed the humor of your answer, but also it causes problems when printing the thread to save. Lots of wasted white paper.

Hal

[Texas Zepher]

Texas Zepher;        I may have worded my question incorectly. I know how to wire the tortoise to the dpdt switch at the panel, but what if i want to power the frog or point rails from the tortoise? My eror in wording.

Nothing wrong with the wording of your question.  But the answer is exactly as I said in the prior post - Wire the frog to pin #4 and the track power to pins #2 and #3.  Reverse the track power on 2 and 3 according to the direction of the turnout to match your wiring scheme.

[mrgstrain]

Thank you all.  The Tonys site was very helpful.   Everyone have a nice Thanksgiving.

Larrry

[Anonymous]

I don't have a lot of experience with Tortoise machines, but someone sells a connector that goes on the bottom of the machine that suposedly makes it easier to connect the wire leads to the printed circut board. I think it's called a Hare. Anyone tell me what that's used for? Admittedly my soldering skills may not be great, but there has to be an easier way to connect the wires to one of these things. And then you end up with all this spagetti hanging off. Do people use 8 or 9 different colors of wire? Come on guys (and ladies), what are the tricks to Tortoises?
Happy Thanksgiving
Abbie Happ

There are a couple of things that fit on to a Tortoise:

Simple connectors, sold by Tony's and others, that you solder wires onto.   Most are 10 positions wide, so hard to fit right.

There is a product called "The Hare", also sold by Tony's and others, that will perform additional functions.

Here's a link to several things Tortoise by Tony: http://tonystrains.com/technews/tortoise/index.htm

Many Tortoise users, like me, use 4-pair phone wire (8-conductor), solder (on the bench) a length of a foot or so to the Tortoise, and connect the other end to a terminal block.   We then install the Tortoise and screw the terminal block to the benchwork, making connections MUCH easier.

Check out this topic:http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/940477/ShowPost.aspx

[abbieleibowitz]

I don't have a lot of experience with Tortoise machines, but someone sells a connector that goes on the bottom of the machine that suposedly makes it easier to connect the wire leads to the printed circut board. I think it's called a Hare. Anyone tell me what that's used for? Admittedly my soldering skills may not be great, but there has to be an easier way to connect the wires to one of these things. And then you end up with all this spagetti hanging off. Do people use 8 or 9 different colors of wire? Come on guys (and ladies), what are the tricks to Tortoises?
Happy Thanksgiving
Abbie

Happ

[Anonymous]

Texas Zepher;        I may have worded my question incorectly. I know how to wire the tortoise to the dpdt switch at the panel, but what if i want to power the frog or point rails from the tortoise? My eror in wording.

Larry

    

Here's Tony's diagram (about the same as comes with the Tortoise, I think):

http://tonystrains.com/technews/tortoise/signal-wiring.htm

Shows both how to power a frog and how to connect signal(s).   Use either or both.

[mrgstrain]

Texas Zepher;        I may have worded my question incorectly. I know how to wire the tortoise to the dpdt switch at the panel, but what if i want to power the frog or point rails from the tortoise? My eror in wording.

Larry

    

[Gary UK]

Be careful!  You'll have the animal protection people after you!

Oh... you mean a point motor...

Your a very funny man dave,

you should be on the stage....................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWEEPING IT.

[Texas Zepher]

I have never used a tortoise. How should i wire from the tortouise to feed power to the switch let's say either the frog or the point rails to make a good eletrical connection.

See figure #2 in the directions.  Wire the frog to pin #4 and the track power to pins #2 and #3.  Reverse the polarity on 2 and 3 according to your wiring scheme.

P.S. There are two other wiring alternatives to the DPDT switches that require fewer (half as many) wires to the control panel.

[ARTHILL]

There is a good set of instructions that come with the tortise. I used those and got it done. I understood them enough to get them to work, but I could not repeat them. If you don't have a set, try to find someone who does. Most people who use them must have a dozen extra sets by now. I used the two power pack method and like it. Good luck.

[Dave-the-Train]

Be careful!  You'll have the animal protection people after you!

Oh... you mean a point motor...

[mrgstrain]

I have never used a tortoise. I know the two end connection's go to the dpdt switch to operate the direction of the switch. How should i wire from the tortouise to feed power to the switch let's say either the frog or the point rails to make a good eletrical connection. Thank's

Larry