I'm about to install a pair of Tortoise-powered turnouts on the mainline of my 5x10 layout. They're about 7-8 feet away from each other.
I've been looking at a Wabbit stationary decoder - I'd like to run both of them off of the same decoder if possible, but in photos online the connectors don't seem long enough.
Should I try to run both from the same stationary decoder, or should I just bite the bullet and get two.
It's DCC so operating them should be the same for either configuration. I'm just wondering if it's better to cover the distance between switch machines with DCC or with the output of the stationary DCC decoder.
A question of centralized or distributed stationary DCC decoders.
Looking at the Wabbit thing on the Tonys Train Exchange site, http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/wabbit_review.htm, I'm not sure what your question is. Looks to me that you can mount the Wabbit near one machine and run wires to the other, or mount it between the machines and run longer wires to both. Whichever is convenient. I didn't think that they provided any connectors to get from the circuit board to the Torti, and the wires they show in the review photo just look like generic wires to me. I think these can be any length you want, within reason.
You coudl always use an NCE Switch-It, they only need 2 wires run to the Tortoise. They also have connections for pushbuttons to operate the Tortoise in addition to controllign them via the DCC handheld.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker You coudl always use an NCE Switch-It, they only need 2 wires run to the Tortoise. They also have connections for pushbuttons to operate the Tortoise in addition to controllign them via the DCC handheld.
Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look.
NSColsMP6 rrinker You coudl always use an NCE Switch-It, they only need 2 wires run to the Tortoise. They also have connections for pushbuttons to operate the Tortoise in addition to controllign them via the DCC handheld. Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look.
Mark,
I see you are in Columbus. I live in Gahanna. I use the Digitrax DS64s and I have a couple of configurations where I run two Tortoises off of a single DS64 output (crossover track). I am not sure what your larger goal is here but this migt be another option.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Any idea if the Switch-It can be used to control signals? Seems to be one advantage to the Wabbit.
I'd like to change the signals when the switch is thrown.
NSColsMP6 I'm about to install a pair of Tortoise-powered turnouts on the mainline of my 5x10 layout. They're about 7-8 feet away from each other.
After placing them on the layout they turned out to be about 55" apart.
NSColsMP6 Any idea if the Switch-It can be used to control signals? Seems to be one advantage to the Wabbit. I'd like to change the signals when the switch is thrown.
The Switch-It can't but the Tortoise can -- read the instructions that come with the Tortoise. They have built-in switches for controlling signals or turnout frog power.
I agree. The tortoise has 2 contacts that are available to do things like switch signals ets
Springfield PA
The Switch-It will work also work with LEDs in series with the Tortoise motor. This is ok for panel lights, but no matter what the drive to the Tortoise, it's usually not satisfactory for lineside signals, since while the Tortoise is moving, both LEDs are on dim, and then one or the other comes on full once the Tortoise stalls.
I would suggest the DS-64. I have four of them on my layout and while I don't control 2 switches with any of the outputs, I believe I recall seeing in the instructions that it is possible. Also with the 4 outputs you have a couple of extra if you ever decide to add more Tortoise machines. And to repeat what a previous post stated the Tortoise is equipped to run signals. Just be sure to do some preliminary wiring before you install the Tortoise.
Dave
'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear' Modeling the Hard Knox Valley Railroad in HO scale http://photos.hardknoxvalley.com/
I have an NCE Switch-it that I'd like to use to power two separate cross overs:______ ___________\_____
^ For example.I can't think of a case where I'd want to align the two turnouts against each other so I figure I have a few options. One is some kind of linkage allowing both turnouts to be controlled by a single tortoise (I've seen some threads here advising against this approach).
Another way to go - and the one I'm favoring at the moment would be to power the two tortoises for each crossover from one ouput on the NCE Switch-It. Since I have two powered cross-overs on the small layout it'd be nice to save a little if one Switch-It will handle both.The Tortoise manual (top of p2) says they draw about 15-16mA stalled. Meanwhile the Switch-It manual (top of p2) lists the draw at about 20-25mA with a maximum per output of 50mA.
I seem to recall reading an MR article about using Tortoises for cascading staging turnout control explaining that due to the nature of stall motor switch machines, the second would only operate after the first had finished it's motion and stalled. Doesn't sound like this configuration would exceed the 50mA max specified by NCE.
The Switch-It manual says the following on page 4: "We have successfully controlled two Tortoise switch machines with one decoder output when used in a crossover. We can't guarantee this will work in all cases." Anyone else have experience with this configuration?
The third approach I'd like to avoid is purchasing another Switch-It and using one for each cross-over.
The Switch-it manual seems to suggest connecting directly to the track power (required for recieving DCC signals) but I'm sure I've read some articles that advocated controlling stationary decoders with a separate DCC bus to retain control of the switch machines in case this is the cause of a short. Thoughts on this?
I use Switch-its and DS64's. Both will handle two turnout motors on a single output. My choice is based on how many turnout motors need to be controlled in an area because I'm cheap.
The Wabbit will run two Tortoise each with their own address. I use cat 3 wire for my switch machines. Two wires for power and two wires for each Tortoise lenght off the wire is not a issue.
NSColsMP6The Switch-It manual says the following on page 4: "We have successfully controlled two Tortoise switch machines with one decoder output when used in a crossover. We can't guarantee this will work in all cases." Anyone else have experience with this configuration?
Yes, it works as advertised, at least for me. I have several crossovers where both Torti are controlled by one Switch-It output. The other output can control another Tortoise or a pair of Torti if you have another crossover that you need controlled.
NSColsMP6The Switch-it manual seems to suggest connecting directly to the track power (required for recieving DCC signals) but I'm sure I've read some articles that advocated controlling stationary decoders with a separate DCC bus to retain control of the switch machines in case this is the cause of a short.
That is what I did. I have two power buses. The two wires out of the command station go to a terminal block. Two wires off the terminal block become the power bus for the turnout decoders. The second pair of wires go to one of the Tony's Train Exchange breakers, and then become the power bus for the track power.
If there is a track short due to a derailment, the breaker trips without interrupting turnout power. If a short develops because I wasn't attentive and drove the train through the turnout with it set against me, then the breaker again trips. However, since turnout power would not be affected, I can still throw the turnout and get it aligned to eliminate the short condition. This method does have a downside in that if you have a short due to a wiring issue at the Tortoise, the entire command station will shut down. But I've never had this happen. If this is a concern, or if your railroad is large enough to justify it, you could always use another booster to provide power to the turnout bus. That way the additional booster's internal breaker would take care of any turnout related shorts without affecting the rest of your operation.