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Switching dwarf turnout indicators

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  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Eisenberg,Germany
  • 41 posts
Switching dwarf turnout indicators
Posted by winnetou on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:52 AM

Hello,I want to switch dwarf turnout indicators(oregon rail supply) to see the switchpostion.I run with Digitrax and DS 64-decoders for the turnouts.Now my problem: How must i connect the bi-polar LED´s with the decoder,that the LED shows green for "thrown" and red for "closed"?

Also I have 2 types of turnout-drivers: tortoise and Atlas(not on the same decoder!)  

Nice,if anyone can help,greetings from Germany,Steffen

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  • From: SE Minnesota
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Posted by jrbernier on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:08 AM

  With Tortoise motors, you can put the 2 lead LED in series with the power to the Tortoise - No programming!

  The Atlas switch machine will require some additional contacts as there is only a mementary 'pulse' to the machine to throw it.  The decoder is not supplying a continuous current to the Atlas machine.  An Atlas Snap Relay running in parallel will give you the additional contacts.

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
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  • From: Eisenberg,Germany
  • 41 posts
Posted by winnetou on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:49 AM

Thank you,Jim,but my Turnout-machine receive only a moment-impulse from the decoder,that´s why it doesn´t work...with the atlas i will test it

greetings,Steffen

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Posted by Rangerover on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:56 AM

 

I used this to show point position with LED's on Peco turnouts, just under $10.00 each for all momentary switches, many other uses such as powering frogs and track.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX5776

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:08 AM

Don't Tortoises come with contact closures for powering signals or non-power-routing frogs?

For the Atlas units, you could get small "latching relays" for a lot less money than the Atlas relay units.  They are designed for circuit board mounting, and require a bit more wiring skill, but they are electrically the same thing.  If you've only got one or two turnouts, the ease-of-wiring might be the better way to go, but for a lot of them, look for latching relays from online electronics places.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Texas
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Posted by aggiewonder on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:10 PM

Steffen:

The DS64 is set for solenoid (such as Atlas) from the Digitrax factory.  To use the DS64 with a Tortoise, you need to change settings.  Did you do that?  I think the others answered the Atlas contact issue as well as the Tortoise two sets of contacts.

 Here's the link for the DS64 manual:

http://www.digitrax.com/ftp/ds64V4.pdf

Brad

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    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
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Posted by CSX Robert on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:21 PM
You could use a seperate Loconet device(such as a Digitrax SEC8, CML Electronics DTM30, or Team Digital SIC24AD) to drive the signals and set them to the same addresses as the turnouts.
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Posted by loathar on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 11:19 PM

Rangerover

 

I used this to show point position with LED's on Peco turnouts, just under $10.00 each for all momentary switches, many other uses such as powering frogs and track.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX5776

Don't the Atlas Deluxe machines have that frog relay built into them?

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Posted by Rangerover on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:55 AM

loathar

Rangerover

 

I used this to show point position with LED's on Peco turnouts, just under $10.00 each for all momentary switches, many other uses such as powering frogs and track.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX5776

Don't the Atlas Deluxe machines have that frog relay built into them?

OK, here is the specs on the Atlas Relay. I have 6 Peco curved turnouts and 3 of the older Atlas turnouts that are in hidden areas. I have a total of 48 turnouts, the remaining 39 are tortoise. I would have had to tear out some scenery to install Tortoise, they are up in the mountain area and no way to get to them from beneath, so I decided to use the atlas snap relay instead. I would sometimes forget which direction I threw the switch and you can't see them, and I would have derailments. I do realize that you can configure some dcc systems to throw the turnout and direction leds, but not with mine unless I install a decoder for each switch. For me it seemed the cheapest and most efficient way to go was to install leds on my map was to go the route I did, using the Atlas snap relay. That's all I needed the relay for was to change the led from red to green, now no more derailments due to my forgetfulness. All I do is just look at the map on the wall!

NOTES FROM OUR TECH DEPARTMENT
              This Snap Relay is a very useful Track Arrangement
                       Designed by Atlas Model Railroad.

FEATURES: A double-pole, double-throw electrical switch actuated by a remotely controllable twin-coil, momentary power electromagnet. It can do all sorts of useful jobs on your layout, some of which are: -Power the frogs on Mark 2 Turnouts to eliminate the short "dead- spot" and prevent stalling of short-wheel-based locos. -Power trackside signal lamps to show switch point settings. -Feed control panel lamps to show points setting of remotely located turnouts. -Selective power control for dead-end sidings with all Atlas turnouts: Mark 2, Custom-Line, or Snap-Switches. Control X-sections automatically. It can be installed wherever convenient. Four rail joiners are provided. Detailed instructions with schematic display of snap-relay.

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Eisenberg,Germany
  • 41 posts
Posted by winnetou on Sunday, March 22, 2009 12:17 PM

Hi,CSX,I have bought a CML DTM30,but I have problems with programming-I have the DTM connect with Loconet(MS100)and 12V DC,but I can´ t programm the DTM-what can I do?

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Posted by jacobo on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:26 AM

 Thank you all for information, had some snap relays in drawer and didn't know if I would ever use them !!!.

Question. Do you need to use Resisters on LED'S, if yes what value.

Thanks 

Jacobo

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 247 posts
Posted by Rangerover on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:19 AM

jacobo

 Thank you all for information, had some snap relays in drawer and didn't know if I would ever use them !!!.

Question. Do you need to use Resisters on LED'S, if yes what value.

Thanks 

Jacobo

Yes you need resistors. I purchase all my leds from a seller on eBay. Quickar Electronis, I get them for $15.00 for 20 with resistors/free shipping. They are 460 ohm resistors that come with them. The recommendation is from 460-570 ohm I believe!

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