Hey there, can anyone tell me the max voltage and or amps for the atlas 851 switch machine, I've just melted two of 'em, and I have no idea as to why. I am supplying them with 19 volts with 3.95 A.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Trev
PS; I only touch the switch for .5 seconds, it's very quick.
T
Just when you thought your layout was done, it's time to expand!
Your control buttons are probably sticking, or if you can actually count the time, you are holdign it too long. Your power supply isn't the problem, you can melt them running off the 16VAC terminals of a less than 1 amp train set power pack.
Best thing you cna do is get a capacitor discharge power supply. If gives the strong jolt needed to reliable switch them yet limits the extended current to well below melting, so even if you lay on the button for a minute nothing will happen. It's a super easy circuit to build, but there are ready to use ones available like the Circuitron Snapper. 4 wires hooks them up, between your power suppyl and the turnout buttons.
--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 Your control buttons are probably sticking, or if you can actually count the time, you are holdign it too long. Your power supply isn't the problem, you can melt them running off the 16VAC terminals of a less than 1 amp train set power pack. Best thing you cna do is get a capacitor discharge power supply. If gives the strong jolt needed to reliable switch them yet limits the extended current to well below melting, so even if you lay on the button for a minute nothing will happen. It's a super easy circuit to build, but there are ready to use ones available like the Circuitron Snapper. 4 wires hooks them up, between your power suppyl and the turnout buttons. --Randy
What size capacitor?
A capacitve discharge system is a circuit. Fundamentally, it's 2 capacitors and 2 resistors, and it requires a DC power supply to drive it. You can Google up a circuit if you'd like to try to build your own. If you have an AC supply, add a bridge rectifier in front of the circuit to convert it to DC.
Alternately, you can buy a system and plug it in. The commercial ones generally include a power supply, so they require no additional connections.
A CD circuit is a very good thing to have. Not only does it protect your switch machines from burning out, but it also delivers a better "kick" to throw the machines over. This will be appreciated if you're running more than one turnout off the same control button, or you're running them a long way from the power supply, or if you use any Peco switch machines.
I'm just guessing, but your fundamental problem is probably one of those Atlas pushbuttons that come with their turnouts, the ones with the black cases and blue buttons. These are notorious for their high failure rate, which, unfortunately, usually involves sticking in the closed position and burning out switch machines.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Sticking switch button is a common problem. 4 amps supply is more than enough to melt at 19 volts. 500 milliseconds is too long to hold the push button down. You just need to make contact then release if everything is moving properly. More like 100 to 200 milliseconds
Richard
WHen I was little, we had mstly HO but some N scale. The switch conrolelrs for the N scale turnouts we had were the lever type - move the lever, them momentarily push them a little more to operate the contact. That only lasted 2 years before my Dad put it away and expanded the HO - there ere only two turnouts on the N scale layout but I went through probably 5 in the 2 years (I was only 5-6 years old). NEVER burned up an HO one.
Later on I got back into N for a while, all Atlas track with the black boxes with blue buttons. Older and more careful, I still managed to burn up 2 of my 10 turnouts. That's when I built a CD power supply, and though I kept the Atlas control boxes, NEVER burned up another one. Then I got tired of the per performance of the lcoos I could afford and went back to HO for good. That would be right before all those nice Atlas/Kato locos came out in N.
MisterBeasley A capacitve discharge system is a circuit. Fundamentally, it's 2 capacitors and 2 resistors, and it requires a DC power supply to drive it. You can Google up a circuit if you'd like to try to build your own. If you have an AC supply, add a bridge rectifier in front of the circuit to convert it to DC. Alternately, you can buy a system and plug it in. The commercial ones generally include a power supply, so they require no additional connections.
Where would i find one?
I mentioned one in my first message, Circuitron Snapper. If the hobby shop doesn;t have Circuitron products, you can order them from any number of online sources, or if the shop is a Walthers dealer they can order it for you.