DCC Turntable wiring help???

[gpharo]

Hello, I recently purchased a Walthers 90' turntable kit (933-3171) for $15...Yes, I am fully aware that it has its problems.  My two boys want a turntable, I said I would give it a try.  I have a DCC layout.

A few questions:

1. Does anyone have experience using the turntable manually, would it work okay? Any suggestions?
2. Assuming it does, I assume I either need an auto-reverser or a DPDT switch on the bridge? Is this correct?
3. Lastly, I assume I need feeder wires on each track in the stalls?

I have no experience with turntables at all, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance,

Pablo

[RR_Mel]

I have 20 years experience with turntables and I learned everything the hard way mostly by mistakes.  You’re correct about needing a reversing DPDT switch with center off.  And you’re also correct about track feeders, I also use DPDT center off for each track.  If you are interested I have a project post on my blog on my turntable.

 

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/p/135-foot-turntable-project.html

 

If you are interested in motorizing it Granger has a 12 volt gearmotor with ½ RPM.

 

 

Mel

 

 

Modeling the SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

[mlehman]

Pablo,

If this turntable has a bridge that swings freely, then it could work manually just positioning it by hand. I've no experience with the Walthers ones, but have built several manually operated ones that I use regularly. Close enough to do by hand is best, with a gear driven manual able to extend your reach. But will it extend your sight? In practical terms, keep a manual TT of either type within a distance where it's something you're comfortable seeing accurately.

This also points out how important the position of the operator is, depending on which tracks are being used to access the TT. Think about how this will work.

Finally, good light helps a lot with being able to see accurately enough to line things up. Consider not locating it in a dark and dreary place or adding light. The exception to this is a variation of the keep it in reach rule I mentioned earlier. If you can feel the rail ends to line them up. If you're lucky, this acuity by touch increases as you age to compensate for your failing sight - at least that seems to be the tradeoff.

[DigitalGriffin]

That old one had terrible problems with the gear mesh on the pinion ring.  I think it was universally dispised and people had to do quite a bit of fiddling to get them to work right with the suggested motor kit.