Anyone using the Cobalt turnout machines. How do you like them and where in the US could we buy them I like the idea of the solder-less connector. I can’t decide between the Cobalt or Tortoise. If I can’t get the Cobalts in the US then I guess I will go with the Tortoise. I just don’t like the soldering arrangement on the Tortoise.
748trum I just don’t like the soldering arrangement on the Tortoise.
I just don’t like the soldering arrangement on the Tortoise.
Google search for "tortoise edge connector" and you'll find alternatives to soldering such ashttp://www.jimsmodeltrains.com/-strse-510/8-dsh-Pin-Edge-Connector-for/Detail.bok
[No experience with these, just one of the Google search results.]
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Several options are available for the Tortoise - besides the edge conenctors you can pre-wire a pigtail to each one and conenct it to a terminal strip, or a pigtail to an RJ45 connector.
The Cobalt is extremely expensive, true it is small and has the solderless conenctors. It also draws more current than a Tortoise, too much to just install LEDs in series with the switch motor as panel indicators.
If you haven't selected one or the other yet, have a look at the servos and controllers from Tam Valley. Way less expensive than a Tortoise, especially if you get teh servos themselves form one of many eBay sellers - brand new 9G servos for $13 for 6, shipping included. If you do not plan to control turnouts via DCC, the Octopus driver is the one for you. If you might at some poitn controlt eh turnouts via DCC, the Quad and Singlet controllers are for you. These already have a DCC decoder buitl in, although they will run with the local pushbuttons just fine on a plain AC power supply.
No connection to the company, just a very satisfied customer. I have a dozen singlets and servos now, and will put in about another 8 for my cement plant until my layout is 'complete'. I would not hesitate to use these again.
---Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi they now available in USA Control Panel Designs.com has ad in MR as of july issue you can go to their web site and there a link to USA supplier or go to www.billstrainsandtrack.net to go direct to USA suppliers store They also have ad in MR marketplace. If you want stay with tortoise they also have a edge 8 pin edge made for it that has eyelets to hold wire while soldering. Hope this helps anyone looking for them.
I use an eight pin Molex connector on my torti. The holes must be redrilled in the board but this eliminates the card connector or a wire soldered onto the board. The wire loops kept breaking on my card connectors so I found this alternative. Molex P/N 26-60-4080 eight pin with .156 spacing. Mating connector P/N 09-50-3081. Pin for mating connector is P/N 08-50-0189. This solved my issues with connectability.
Dave
Good points concerning soldering alternatives on the Tortoise. But, geez, even the soldering approach is not big deal on the Tortoise. Heck, you can feed the wires through the pre-drilled holes in the Tortoise tabs and just twist the wires tight if you don't like soldering.
Rich
Alton Junction
rrinker If you haven't selected one or the other yet, have a look at the servos and controllers from Tam Valley. Way less expensive than a Tortoise, especially if you get teh servos themselves form one of many eBay sellers - brand new 9G servos for $13 for 6, shipping included. If you do not plan to control turnouts via DCC, the Octopus driver is the one for you. If you might at some poitn controlt eh turnouts via DCC, the Quad and Singlet controllers are for you. These already have a DCC decoder buitl in, although they will run with the local pushbuttons just fine on a plain AC power supply.
One question....
If not planning to use DCC to control turnouts, why use the Octopus? Wouldn't it be much cheaper to modify the servos to just use the motors as described in the Jan. 2011 MR article (p. 62)?
If the 9G servos, at the above prices, could be used that way (opinion?), it would appear that one could power a turnout (motor, frog SPDT, panel SPDT) for under five dollars.... or am I just dreaming?
Jim
When someone posted about that article, I talked about why not. Servos are not meant to work as stall motors. They are commanded to move to a certain position and they are supposed to shut off the motor when they reach it. I question the long-term durability of using them to stall like a Tortoise. They tend to get hot, and buzz. This is why you need a proper driver, liek the Octopus, that can set endpoints so the servo moves enough to firmly close the points but doesn;t keep trying to push past the physical limit. The gears are such that they won't spring back when power is removed, on anythign they can move (for example, a 9G servo probably can't move the points on Code 148 O scale unhinged point turnouts, the rail needs more force than that to bend - but a larger servo that can move it will also hold it). Same thing in the intended use in model airplanes - there's a lot of force on the control surfaces of a larger plane, so you need larger servos to move and hold the position. They don't stall in an airplane either, when they reach the position commanded by the stick on the transmitter, the motor shuts off.
--Randy
Thanks Randy. Hey, it wasn't the answer I was hoping for, ...
... but at least you're a fellow anthracite guy!