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Multiple switch wiring help request

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  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 50 posts
Multiple switch wiring help request
Posted by MarkVIIIMarc on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 2:01 PM

Looking for some help wiring in switches for my old school dc / ac track.

Hooking one or two up has gone well enough. My layout plan calls for four and I hate to just squeeze all them terminals into my power controller.

My first idea is to wire them off a fuse box anchored out of sight. Is this how it is done or do you all have a trusted link or two I should read first?

My cell phone scribbles.

Thanks again

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • From: mississippi
  • 291 posts
Posted by sakel on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 2:47 PM

you should be able to tie them into your DC terminals, are you useing remote switches?

Samuel A. Kelly

I can draw pictures with my keyboard!

-------- ( It's a worm)

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:11 PM

There's no need to have an individual fuse on each switch, but you can use a terminal strip to wire the power leads to the [electrical] switch.

Also, what brand/type of [track] switch (turnout) or switch machines are you using? That'll have an impact on whether the power supply should be AC or DC, and how the switch controls should be wired to the switch machine. Your drawing is a little simplified and looks simply like a bunch of on-off switches, which aren't going to properly throw too many switch machines out there. (Unless it's in fact a special control that has reversing wiring build into it?)

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 50 posts
Posted by MarkVIIIMarc on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 11:59 PM

Yeah, my drawing sucked lol.

My two switches are both Bachman E-Z Track Remotes.  The Control in the middle is the factory one which came with them. They are AC powered. 

The back of the box tells me I can hook at least two together but the diagram shows something a little different. 

To match my existing track better I have two Life-Like #433-8610 Remote Switches ordered.  I can't find any real directions for them.

Again, thanks for the help.

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