I'm currently installing the electrics of the layout.
I get a little confused though ...
I had thought you could find info on the web about how to solve certain problems?
My plan was to include the following features;
1) The turnouts have live frogs, so the turnout motor must be able to polarize correctly when switched. My Peco Pl-10 and Rapido Railcrew has switches for that function.
Solved!
2) I have Digikeij's switch decoders with built-in CDU for my Peco Pl-10 and Rapido Railcrew motors.
But I want to be able to manually change the PECO engines via push buttons, just as the Railcrew functions.
How to solve it?
You cannot send back current into the decoder? Install 1N4007 diodes?
3) I want LEDs on the track panel showing which direction the turnout is set.
My solution that I have considered is to take the power from the frog wire and via two cables that are connected via resistors, diodes and LEDs to each rail should be able to give the route indication? Are there any disadvantages to such a solution?
4) I will have three reverse loops, and it would be great if you could control a turnout thru a sensing block or the like so that it changes when the train arrives to the block, not automatically when the polarity changes.
I will not have slow motion motors for the turnouts as they are much more expensive and do not have the functioning switchstands that the Railcrew motors have.
So I'll use Peco motors on those who are not visually important. Then I don't have to use two different decoders.
Would be very nice if someone with more knowledge about these things than me could give some feedback.
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
What DCC system are you using? If there are no connections for buttons or inputs on the stationary decoers you are using, you will have to add that capability in another way, with an input device that accepts buttons, or from a block detector, and sends switch commands to the address of the decoder controlling the turnout.
The indicator thing should work, the potential between the rail the frog is lined for and the frog power should be nothing, whicle the frog to opposite rail should be full track voltage.
What are you using to control the reverse loop track power? POSX controlelrs have an option to switch the turnout when it switches polarity, although that may only be for slow motion machines.
Hmm, I wonder if it would be possible to have the best of both worlds. It wouldn;t be hard to mount a servo so that the plane of rotation is parallel to the layout surface. Drill a small hole down right over the servo's shaft and connect a switch stand. Working switch stand AND slow motion.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It seems to be impossible to use the decoder for my intention. It fails on the way it controls the turnout with a built in DC power delivery system.
It makes it impossible to access the DC connection points that is inside the decoder.
So, I think I'll use the decoders for lighting instead (which is one of its built in functions).
I'm going to buy servo decoders instead.
There's this rather good system from MGP that I'll try. The decoders can be push button controlled, has built in frog polarity and it's possible to make a panel with LEDs