NSColsMP6I found the answer elsewhere... These are DC powered not AC, so I'd need a capacitor if I wanted to power them with track power and the included momentary SPDT switch. I saw the NCE Snap-it stationary decoder. Looks nice but anyone know if it has enough oomph to control a pair of turnouts simultaneously (as in a crossover configuration for crossover routing)?
Unfortunately, I do not use DCC for my turnouts so I am unable to answer your question concering the potential power output of a Snap-it. I would guess not since the product description in the catalog specifically says, "Control one twin coil switch machine".
We're all going to say the same thing - don't run your turnouts off of your DCC system. You can control them with DCC, but that's a different matter and the power must come from elsewhere.
I run my turnouts the way I always have, off the accessory terminals of an old DC power pack. It's the same way I did it 50 years ago, when that was a new DC power pack. However, I did add a Capacitive Discharge circuit to give me a better kick for flipping more "stubborn" mechanisms like Pecos. Each turnout is wired to a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) momentary-contact toggle.
If you prefer, you can get stationary decoders to run your turnouts, but you don't have to do that with DCC.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I am surprised you even tried to operate a twin coil machine via DCC. No way. Not even with a cap. You need a lot of education on what you are doing
Use a Snapper powered by an AC from a transformer or the Accessory terminals of an old power pack which is usually AC. Even the DC terminals of an old power pack will feed a Snapper but turn the power pack all the way up if it is not used for anything else.
A Snapper will power more than two turnouts.
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.
richg1998You need a lot of education on what you are doing
Well other than being a large waste of realtively expensive DCC power, there's no real reason why a twon coil switch machine wouldn;t actually work on DCC power. At leas,t the Atlas and other twin coil types - the Kato ones ARE DC only and rely on the polarity revering to throw back and forth. A twin coil type will work on AC or DC, you just have to make sure to connect the proper wires, and ONLY MOMENTARILY.
Still, this is NOT somethign you'd actually want to do other than maybe to test a switch machine. There are several options for stationary decoders if you really want to control the turnouts from your DCC throttle, but this is fairly cumbersome in any brand of DCC system. Your absolute cheapest option would be to pick up a power pack like an MRC 1300 and (optional but highly recommended) a Circuitron Snapper, and run the turnouts from that.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NSColsMP6I found the answer elsewhere... These are DC powered not AC
NSColsMP6These are DC powered not AC, so I'd need a capacitor if I wanted to power them with track power and the included momentary SPDT switch.
Just a brief technical note - you would need a diode bridge to rectify the any AC signal (or DCC, which isn't quite the same ) before feeding a capacitor.
I'll say it again, twin coil swicth motors are AC OR DC they work fine on either. There is less contact arcing with AC though on the momentary contacts.
A capacitor discharge powers suppyl liek the Snapper is more than just a capacitor. Not sure about the Snapper, but the one I built for myself way back when took an AC input, it had a diode. This is part of what made it so 'snappy' - a cap charging from rectified AC charges to the AC peak not the RMS voltage, which is the higher of the two. Output from the CD power suppyl is DC, to the buttons and then to the switch motors.
So, prior to installing a CD supply, the turnouts were controlled by AC fromt he accessory posts on the power pack. With the CD machine, the turnouts were seeing DC fromt he output of the CD supply. The large resistor in the CD supply limits current if you hold the button down too long, or if it gets stuck, preventing the coils from burning out.
rrinker...there's no real reason why a twon coil switch machine wouldn;t actually work on DCC power...
While twin coil switch machines are AC or DC, there is a reason they will not work on DCC power. When powered by AC, the impedance of the coil increases with frequency, and at the frequencies of the DCC signal, the impedance is enough to prevent the coil from operating.