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Replacement for Tam Valley Depot Fascia Controllers?

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  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Replacement for Tam Valley Depot Fascia Controllers?
Posted by IDRick on Monday, August 30, 2021 6:39 PM

Duncan McRee, owner of Tam Valley Depot, has retired due to illness and their product line is going to be markedly reduced...  Very sorry to hear of Duncan's diagnosis, retirement, and business decision to reduce their product line.

I find the Tam Valley system to be very desirable for a newbie like me.  Pretty straightforward to adopt using servos for turnout control and have turnout location readily presented on the fascia.  I procrastinated too long before making an order.  The fascia controller kits for turnouts and constructed crossover fascia controllers are very hard to find.  Tam Valley does provide circuit diagrams for alternative inputs but I don't know how to interpret the diagrams.  I would like toggle or pushbutton inputs and LED indication of turnout location.  Can someone help me interpret their diagram and describe how to accomplish on/off input and turnout location?  The diagrams are shown here:

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/oldoctopusservodriver.html  scroll down

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Monday, August 30, 2021 9:04 PM

My initial post was asking for too detailed of an answer...  Can someone answer if I can use a basic fascia controller to operate a single crossover?  Two servos can operate a single crossover and thus it should work.  The crossover controller operates the turnouts and shows which track is available with the LED's.  I can live without LED indication...

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 283 posts
Posted by Lee 1234 on Monday, August 30, 2021 11:20 PM
Hook two servos to one servo output with a wye cable. Hook up a single momentary push button to the S and B terminals of the corresponding input. You will also need a power supply. I hope you have an Octopus currently in your possession.

Lee

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 11:13 AM

Thanks for the info!  No Octo III's on hand and can not find any online...   Clunk, TVD plan in the trash...  Woulda, coulda, shoulda decided and ordered a couple of years ago.  IMO, it is better to have totally missed than have multiple electronic turnout control systems on the layout.

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
  • 252 posts
Posted by CNR378 on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 6:33 PM

Since the TVD issue came on quick due to illness, maybe wait a while and see what happens. Maybe the line will expand again or the discontinued products sold to another company.

Peter

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 10:22 PM

CNR378

Since the TVD issue came on quick due to illness, maybe wait a while and see what happens. Maybe the line will expand again or the discontinued products sold to another company.

Peter

 

TVD does have high quality products and certainly fills a niche.  Sounds like they are going to retire many products, in part due to supply management issues.  I hope they can sell to someone else and start selling again!

Arduino is an exciting new player in model railroading but has a very steep learning curve for many, like me!  I'm a user, not a programmer  Offer me a product that will fill a need, be nearly plug and play, and have well defined directions, then yes, perfect, exactly what I want!

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