Hi, all.
I use several DS64s to drive Tortoise switch motors through my Digitrax Zephyr. No problems at all.
I want to wire up a control panel and would like to have DPDT switches also capable of changing the Tortoise direction.
Digitrax does have a schematic on their web site to show how to use momentary-on push buttons drive the inputs on the DS64, and change the Tortoise direction.
However, if the DPDT switches aren't momentary-on and I wire them up to the DS64 inputs, aren't they just going to continue to force one polarity or the other if toggle the DPDT switch up or down and leave it there?
Would I need a spring-loaded DPDT momentary-on switch to do it this way?
Dave (northern_blues)
northern_blues Hi, all. I use several DS64s to drive Tortoise switch motors through my Digitrax Zephyr. No problems at all. I want to wire up a control panel and would like to have DPDT switches also capable of changing the Tortoise direction. Digitrax does have a schematic on their web site to show how to use momentary-on push buttons drive the inputs on the DS64, and change the Tortoise direction. However, if the DPDT switches aren't momentary-on and I wire them up to the DS64 inputs, aren't they just going to continue to force one polarity or the other if toggle the DPDT switch up or down and leave it there? Would I need a spring-loaded DPDT momentary-on switch to do it this way? Dave (northern_blues)
You don't use DPDT switches for this. You use SPST momentary on switches. They wire between +COM wire and the 8 inputs. The 8 inputs can be mapped to routes (which is how I use them) by setting OpSw11 Closed. If you just want to toggle the outputs directly use the S1 to S4 inputs. Pages 10-15 in the DS64 manual layout the input options.
I use Radio Shack cheap SPST switches.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Thanks, Jeff. Your link referenced push-button SPST switches. I assume I can get spring-loaded momentary-on toggle switches? I think I would prefer to flip a switch up or down to keep the direction of the toggle toward the track that I want lined.
Have you had any issues once you had your routes programmed? Losing memory on the DS64?
northern_blues Thanks, Jeff. Your link referenced push-button SPST switches. I assume I can get spring-loaded momentary-on toggle switches? I think I would prefer to flip a switch up or down to keep the direction of the toggle toward the track that I want lined. Have you had any issues once you had your routes programmed? Losing memory on the DS64? Dave (northern_blues)
You can get momemntary toggle switches but they come back to center and don't stay in the direction you want. That's what indicator lights are for. I put LEDs inline between the DS64 outputs and the Tortoise switch machines. This won't work with snap switch machines but will work fine with your Tortoises..
No, I've not had any issues with DS64s losing their memory. I did have one go bad once. As long as you don't program routes into the DS64, there aren't that many things to program in. With routes I keep an Excel spreadsheet with the data.
I forgot to mention that I want to have bi-color LED's on the control panel, green/red to indicate which track is lined with the turnout (green) and which is not (red). So the toggle switch is just for tactile feedback for me but the LED's will be the visual of what turnouts are set.
Unfortunately most if not all momentary toggle switches will return to center. Here's a link to one type:
mom-off-mom toggle
Martin Myers
Can't help with the technical part, but here's a great place to get your switches.http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=62
They have the push buttons and LEDs too.