Have just acquired - auction lot - a number of Peco Switch motors but they came with no wiring instructions. I aim to use them on the DC section of my N gauge system. Before you ask, this section is totally seperate to the main DCC system. Can anybody out there offer advice? Any advice would be welcome - thanks
Peter
As far as I know, the peco machines are twin coil types (at least the HO ones are) and it doesn't matter if you use them on DC track or DCC track. They will be powered in the same way, and not from the track.
Try the Peco web site http://www.peco-uk.com/ to see if they have the instructions.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Yes, Peco switch machines are twin-coils. Unlike Atlas and some others, they have 4 connectors, not 3, but two of them are generally wired together.
Take 1 wire from your power supply and connect it to both of the connectors on one flat face of the Peco machine. The other wire from the power supply goes to the center post of a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) Momentary Contact toggle switch. The toggle switch should spring back to the center OFF position by itself when you press it to either side.
Each of the other posts of the toggle switch should be wired to one of the remaining posts on the switch machine.
Peco turnouts themselves have a small spring built into them. It's this spring which holds the points against the stock rails. The switch machine is strong enough to overcome the force of the spring. But, having all this power means you have to put more in, so most of us who use Pecos find that they work much better with a Capacitive Discharge (CD) circuit to drive them, rather than just the same voltage used for other twin-coils. You can buy a commercial CD circuit ("Snapper" is one) or build the circuit yourself. It's pretty simple - just a couple of resistors and capacitors.
Also, these switch machines are designed for Peco turnouts. They will get over the force of that little spring, but they also depend on the spring to hold the points in place once thrown. So, you won't be happy if you use one of these for anything other than a Peco turnout. (No, it's not just folklore with me. I've tried it. On the other hand, once I replaced those old Shinoharas with new Pecos, I was delighted with the performance.)
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It never fails to amaze me, the amazing knowledge that is available on this site. Thanks guys!
Thanks Mr B. Where would we be without you?
SirPeter wrote: Thanks Mr B. Where would we be without you?Peter
I dunno. Albuquerque?