A have several Model Power 3 light signal with a 4 way prewired switch attached ( Still in the boxes). How can I change this to be attached to the Tortoise so as the switch is thrown it will indicate stop or through? I already have a couple of switches tied to the Tortoise so if the train is going and the switch is in the wrong position the train will stop. Thanks in advance.
Harold
DOn't know the wire colors on the signal, but if you have the 2-3-4 set of contacts free on the Tortoise, you would hook one side of the power supply to the common wire in the signal, the other power supply wire to pin 4 on the Tortoise, the red wire from the signal to either pin 2 or 3 of the Tortoise and the greem wire to the remaining Tortoise pin. If the red/green indication is wrong, you switch the wires on pins 2 and 3. Or if you already used 2-3-4 for the frog, use 7-6-5 in the same way - 5 is common, 6 and 7 in place of 2 and 3.
You can;t get the yellow to work in this situation wituout a LOT fo additional wiring. You will have a red when the turnout is set against your train, and a green when it's lined properly.
ALternately you could hook up a signal facing the point side so that you get green when straignt and yellow when diverging. Same wiring, just use the green and yellow from the signal. You can hook up to 3 signals such that oen faces the diverging route, one faces the straight route from the frog side, and oen faces the points. They can all share the same set of Tortoise contacts so that they show red, green, or yellow as appropriate to the turnout setting.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I think this may be a visual of what Randy is describing:
Define FREE. I have those terminal connected to a Terminal Strip so I can made easy changes. Is there a problem of the signals being connected to the same terminal posts?
What type of turnouts are you using? To what are terminals 234 and/or 567 connected? Are they simply wired into a terminal strip for future use? If so, then simply wire LEDs from the terminal strip -- the strip will make the electrical connection back to the tortoise.
Terminals 1 and 8 should be connected to your power source. If your other terminals are already being used, then you can also wire your lights in series with either terminal 1 or 8:
This diagram has the lights in series with 1, but you can do it just as effetively with 8. In fact, if the lights aren't turning on in the proper sequence, then simply flip the wires in 1 and 8. I solder my tortoise wires to a wiring clip that slides onto the printed circuitboard terminals under the tortoise, so all I would have to do is physically slide and flip this clip. In your case all you would need to do is switch the wires in your terminal strip that are connected to slots 1 and 8.
The 2,3,4 and 5,6,7 are being used to power the turnout. If a train is coming down the diversion track and the switch is in the wrong position , the train will stop until I throw the switch. It has stopped all derailments as well as two trains deciding to meet at the switch. That is what I am trying to do with the signals. That way the signal will also show if the switch is in the wrong position. This is mostly for appearence as I also have lights on my panel that show this.
If you are already using 2-3-4 and 5-6-7 to power the track, you can't also connect the signals there. I've seen people glue microswitches to the Tortoise case so that the arm hits them at the end of the throw to gain extra contacts for operating signals. Otherwise, you are ot of luck.
I was thinking. (Dangerous). My control panel switches which also have panel lights.
Can I hook the signal directly to the switch? It changes the lights on the panel so why not the signal?
How are the LEDs in the panel wired, like the diagram above? Or are they run off different contacts on the toggle than the ones that control the Tortoise?
Randy
Just like the one above.
You would wire another pair of LEDs in just like those two then, NOT in parallel with the existing ones. This will slow the Tortoise down even more, but it should still be enough to work properly.
The Model Power signals I think are incandescent bulbs, you can;t use those in this way.
The relacment bulbs are 16v Gr of wheat. I assume these are incandescents.
Is there a way to wire this signal to where when the switch is trown the signal will be correct for the trains path? Instruction say it will work on AC or DC.
Yes, but you need switch contacts on the Tortoise, and you've already used both sets that are provided. You can glue a microswitch on the Tortoise so tha tht lever gets pushed when the motor is in one position and released in the other, giving you an additional SPDT set of contacts to make teh signal change between red and green. But as things stand now, with no extras added - your only option is to use the manual switch that comes with them.
Thanks for the help. New signal that I will be installing will use optics on the track.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
If you would show me a wiring diagrahm of the parallel connection it would be greatly apprecited. Would I be able to use the second switch on the Tortouse to control a signal down the line?
hwolf If you would show me a wiring diagrahm of the parallel connection it would be greatly apprecited. Would I be able to use the second switch on the Tortouse to control a signal down the line? Harold
Using a second Tortoise is a LOT more expensive than just gluing a microswitch on the existing Tortoise.
rrinker Using a second Tortoise is a LOT more expensive than just gluing a microswitch on the existing Tortoise. --Randy
Alton Junction