Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

snap relay help

1432 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 31 posts
snap relay help
Posted by monsterbigmike on Thursday, November 22, 2012 7:58 AM

when i hook up snap and turnout together it does not work i test the snap by self and turn works great but not together

I have n scale and G scale

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, November 22, 2012 8:37 AM

Your power supply is insufficient to operate the two at the same time.

Do yourself a favor and install a capacitive discharge circuit, or CD circuit for short.  You can either buy one or put one together for a few dollars in Radio $hack parts.  Circuits can be found online.  Basically, it's two resistors and two capacitors.

A CD circuit stores energy in the capacitors and then releases it all when needed, giving you a much bigger "kick" when you need it.

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

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, November 22, 2012 9:22 AM

Buy a Circuittron Snapper. Follow the instructions.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 31 posts
Posted by monsterbigmike on Thursday, November 22, 2012 10:35 AM

thank you

I have n scale and G scale

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 26 posts
Posted by trainman2 on Sunday, November 25, 2012 8:26 PM

Miniatronics makes one to! The other nice thing is if you have a mommentary button switch stick it wont burn out the switch motor solenoid as there is only one blast of power period. Now i am not sure if the more amps behind the power feeding the unit the faster it loads. In most cases a good 1 plus amp works great with switch machines. Many power packs are under rated in this department hence you dont get a good solid snap and more of a buzz! Steve

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, November 26, 2012 2:21 PM

With a Snapper or what is called a CDU, the capacitor in the device in it does the work. It dumps quite a lot of current. A hefty power pack can do the same but some hold down the switch too long and burn the coil out. Twin coil machines have been around for many years and some have burned some out before they realized what was happening.

The cap charges up after the switch is released. Does not take very long to charge.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!