I am adding a 6 track classification yard to my platform and would like to independently control each track from a single DC transformer. I have the plastic rail connectors to isolate each track and can wire each track to a control box and then to the transformer. Who sells that type of control box to control multiple tracks?
to the forum. Your intial posts are moderated.
You are creating 6 blocks. It can be done with a 6 pole rotary switch or 6 toggle switches, ebay will be the cheapest, but if it's coming from China it will be 3 or 4 weeks.
You can't independantly and simultaneously control different tracks with different amounts of throttle using DC and a single throttle.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Atlas has the control boxes with switches. None of them have 6 switches but you just gang them together to get more. The Connector is the one you want, with just one power pack. Each one has 3 on/off switches., so you need two of them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
That control box! I was having a Homer Simpson moment over that. They do the job but they are ugly. IMHO
But they have served well for beginners since Atlas released them and included full wiring diagrams in their track plan books.
BigDaddyIt can be done with a 6 pole rotary switch
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I would suggest a 2 pole 6 position rotary switch. I think that is what you meant.
A single pole 6 position switch will also work, but I prefer to isolate both rails.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
You have to look at problems like this from the interlocking tower.
The track alignment controls what power goes to which track. If you are using twin-coil switch nmachines this is problematic. If you are using Tortoise switch machines the project is dead simple.
A properly designed interlocking tower controls the home signals as well as the turnouts. The track is powered when you clear the signal. (Home Signals are normally RED untill cleared).
Here is Interlocking Plaant of LION
And here is a local contact board controlling two main lines and four terminal tracks (sidings to you freight operators):
Nails are used as binding posts since I cannot afford barrier strips, nor can the LION manage screw drivers. A Soldering Iron is much easier.
A Tortise switch machine has two terminals for the coil and six represnting a DPDT switch. You can see these locations marked on the board. There are also six tracks represented: Uptown, Downtown, Tk3, Tk4, Tk5, and Tk6.
Since on layout of LION the left rail is GROUND, only the Right rail need be switched to control the tracks.
With these wired to the board it is a simple matter (so says the LION) to wire in the logic for this plant. The colored wires come from the switch machines, the black wires ciontrol the logic. You can see that one side of the coils are bonded to ground.
This sure beats going under the table to do the wiring and soldering.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
To the orginal question:
I used power routing PECO turnouts. Feed the power from the approach track ONLY and when you route the rails to a siding, you also route the power to that track only.
Simple to wire, simple to operate. Like me.
Dave