Arggh, I had a diagram for this, but I misplaced it.
I have a DPDT wired to control a Tortoise-powered turnout.
The outer four tabs are wired in an X-pattern to reverse polarity. The tabs on one end are wired to a DC power pack. The middle tabs are wired to the outermost tabs on the Tortoise. I also have a bi-polar LED wired to the middle tabs of the DPDT, green for straight thru and red for divergent.
I want to add a second DPDT to control the same Tortoise from a remote location. How do I wire that second DPDT so that I can control the Tortoise from either location, while keeping the bi-polar LED operating regardless of which DPDT is toggled?
Rich
Alton Junction
Wire the second DPDT with the crossing pattern just like the first. Remove the center post (to Tortoise) wires from the first DPDT, and run wires from the center posts of the first DPDT to one end of the second DPDT, and then from the center posts of the second DPDT to the Tortoise. The Tortoise and the bi-polar LED should work as before.
However, what will be different is that the position of the toggle bar on the DPDT will no longer reflect the position of the Tortoise, necessarily. What you might want to do is add a second bi-polar LED in series with the first so you can have the same indicator at each toggle.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have been planning to operate my Tortoise machines from walk around locations and from a centrally located control panel. I didn't think using two DPDT switches would work. I decided to use a miniature DPDT relay controlled by an SPST switch. The relay contacts are wired like the DPDT switch. Closing the switch energizes the relay throwing the switch reverse. Shutting it off de-energizes the relay throwing the switch normal. Using a second SPST in parallel on a control panel does the same thing, but they should be both left in the normal position when not in use. My LEDs are controlled from the Tortoise machine itself. I just put another LED in parallel.
Rich: The July 2002 issue of Model Railroaded magazine has the schematic for your question.
Old Fat Robert
Wait, two SPST toggles in parallel with each other to control a relay? How can that work? If you leave one switch on to energize the relay, you can't turn it off with the other switch.
Not sure why you didn;t think 2 DPDT's would work - flip one, it reverses the polarity and the Tortoise moves. Flip the other one, and the polarity reverses, and the Tortoise moves. The only thing with this arrangement is that like a "3 way" switch in your house, they get out of sync so the toggle handle will not always indicate the selected route. However, with the LEDs in series, you have an indication that will always match.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Mr Beasely's description is spot on. I have several switch machines that can be toggled from two locations with indicator LED's at both locations. I even have one T/O motor controllable from three locations.
Sometimes it really is easier just to wire the thing to a Switch-It and make it controlled remotely. That's like adding multiple additional swicthes from every spot around the layout.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
There is a simple circuit, using a single relay, that will allow any number of control stations for the same turnout - it uses pushbuttons rather than a toggle switch.
And indicator lights, or LED's, can show the position of the turnout at all the locations.
And if you use two relays, you can use readily available normally open LED lighted pushbuttons.
Good quality ice cube relays for this can be had for about $2 each.
Here is that circuit:
More complex versions of this circuit can control multiple turnouts combined into routes, also allowing multiple locations to control and see the route selected. Rich, sent me a PM if you want more info on this, Sheldon
More complex versions of this circuit can control multiple turnouts combined into routes, also allowing multiple locations to control and see the route selected.
Rich, sent me a PM if you want more info on this,
Sheldon
Here is an example of a multi turnout version - for a wye. Ony one button needs to be pushed to select the desired route, and you can have as many control stations as you like. The diagrams shows local control and dispatcher control, but more buttons can simply be stacked in parrellel with those shown.
MisterBeasley Wire the second DPDT with the crossing pattern just like the first. Remove the center post (to Tortoise) wires from the first DPDT, and run wires from the center posts of the first DPDT to one end of the second DPDT, and then from the center posts of the second DPDT to the Tortoise. The Tortoise and the bi-polar LED should work as before. However, what will be different is that the position of the toggle bar on the DPDT will no longer reflect the position of the Tortoise, necessarily. What you might want to do is add a second bi-polar LED in series with the first so you can have the same indicator at each toggle.
Without my trusty diagram, that is how I wired it from memory yesterday before posting this thread.
When I wired it as you described, I could operate the Tortoise from either location, but the bi-polar LED attached to the original DPDT did not change color when I flipped the new remote DPDT switch. However, if the flip the original DPDT switch, the LED does change color. What have I done wrong?
It is more likely I will never build a control panel, so using SPST to throw the tortoise machines will remain a walk around practice. I have Lots of SPST's that I didnt have to buy and 100 relays which is why I went that way.
richhotrain MisterBeasley Wire the second DPDT with the crossing pattern just like the first. Remove the center post (to Tortoise) wires from the first DPDT, and run wires from the center posts of the first DPDT to one end of the second DPDT, and then from the center posts of the second DPDT to the Tortoise. The Tortoise and the bi-polar LED should work as before. However, what will be different is that the position of the toggle bar on the DPDT will no longer reflect the position of the Tortoise, necessarily. What you might want to do is add a second bi-polar LED in series with the first so you can have the same indicator at each toggle. Thanks, Mr. B. Without my trusty diagram, that is how I wired it from memory yesterday before posting this thread. When I wired it as you described, I could operate the Tortoise from either location, but the bi-polar LED attached to the original DPDT did not change color when I flipped the new remote DPDT switch. However, if the flip the original DPDT switch, the LED does change color. What have I done wrong? Rich
Thanks, Mr. B.
You nust have it wired power-->toggle1-->LED1--->toggle2--->LED2--->Tortoise
So that the LEDs change no matter which toggle you flip, the LEDs have to come after all toggles. Yes, it means more wire between the two panels.
power-->toggle1--->toggle2--->LED1--->LED2--->Tortoise
If for some reason you don;t like relays, Rob Paisley has a solid state version of effectively the same circuit, using a 556 timer IC and pushbuttons. You cna add as many sets of pushbuttons as you like.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/556Stall08.html
rrinker You nust have it wired power-->toggle1-->LED1--->toggle2--->LED2--->Tortoise So that the LEDs change no matter which toggle you flip, the LEDs have to come after all toggles. Yes, it means more wire between the two panels. power-->toggle1--->toggle2--->LED1--->LED2--->Tortoise --Randy
If ewe use two wire control to Tortoise, ewe could just line them up but then the toggles will point the wrong way.
LION uses SPDT switches, local switches are turned off unless the TOWER activates them, in which case a BLUE lamp displays in the tower indicating that local control is in effect, and Tower controls are turned off. When Tower takes back control, all switches move to the positions dictated by the tower controls.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS