Good afternoon,
I have 18 Atlas Switch machines and I want to use momentary on push buttons to operate them. Two for each switch machine.I would rather use these than the Atlas buttons so I can put them right on the track diagram on my control panel. I tried all the ways I could think of to wire the buttons to the switch machines, but I fried 2 switch machines in experimenting. Each button has 2 contacts.
Can anyone tell me how to wire these so they work.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Bob
One line from your power supply goes to the center post of the switch machine.
The other line from the power supply goes to one post on each of the push buttons.
The other post on one push button goes to one of the outer posts of the switch machine.
The other post of the other push button goes to the other outer post of the switch machine.
Now, are you sure these are momentary-contact pushbuttons? If they are actually push-on, push-again-off buttons, then that may be why you fried the machines. If they click when you push them, they are probably NOT momentary-contact.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mister Beasley,
Thanks for the help.I am sure their momentary because I tested them with a
16 volt light bulb and it only lights when the button is pushed.I'll use your
suggestion. thanks for your reply.
Bob,
As you are using a control panel, I thought I'd pass along a switch machine control method that I found that is simple, easy to understand, and best of all, CHEAP! I wish I knew who invented this system, but it consists of installing metal contact studs or screws in the track map on your control panel and operating the switch motors by tracing the map with a metal wand wired to the power supply. As you trace the route you wish to travel, the metal wand contacts the contact studs and activates the switch motors. The studs or screws are installed in the track map in the same positions you would normally place your push button switches. Each screw is wired to the appropriate pole of the switch motor. The center pole of each switch motor is wired to one pole of the power supply. The other pole of the power supply is connected to the metal wand. As the wand touches a contact stud or screw head, the circuit is completed and the switch motor activated. The movement of the wand tracing the track route ensures that only momentary contact is made so the switch motors are safe from burnout. Virtually everyone who has operated my layout could successfully align the switches for their intended track route with only about 30 seconds of instruction and practice (that includes a five year old).
I used small round head stainless screws for the contact studs. I attached the wires to the screws using solderless crimp connectors and nuts with lock washers. A six inch steel rod with a rounded tip works for the wand. I soldered the rod to a coil-cord and dressed it up by covering all but the tip of the wand using red heat shrink tubing. A plastic tube was attached to the control panel to hold the wand when not in use. When you wish to align a route, you simply pick up the wand, place the tip on the track map where your train currently sits, then trace the wand along the track map route you wish to take. Snap, snap, snap and you're ready to go.
Chris
Hornblower
Sounds like a good way to eliminate the buttons.The wiring instructions Mr. Beasley
gave me would apply here as well.I have 4 and 6 year old grandsons who will help
operate, thanks for the suggestion.
I have 4 and 6 year old grandsons that love to operate my layout and I get fried switch motors ever so often. I have been trying to figure out a way to limit the time of the power pulse duration. There is a thread of mine that other posts have suggested using a capacitive discharge power supply but the parts are about $40. and you have to build it your self. The push button method seems cheap which is good. One caution, I mounted Atlas slide buttons on a flat surface and I think that allows an operator to lay a hand or something on the switches causing the motors to melt. I think the buttons should be mounted on a vertical surface.
my opinion
Lee
A capacitive discharge circuit is 2 capacitors and 2 resistors. Even at Radio $hack, it shouldn't be more than a few dollars.
What runs the price up in a lot of these circuits is the power supply. However, if you're already powering the turnouts from an old train transformer or whatever, you can use the same unit as your power supply. If you've got DC terminals available, just power the CD circuit from them. If you've only got AC terminals, then you'll have to add a diode bridge rectifier, which is a single component and shouldn't cost more than a dollar.
As for those Atlas buttons, I've had a number of them fail when mounted vertically. They're a weak link in Atlas's product line, IMHO.
The other alternative which hasn't been discussed in this thread is a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) momentary contact toggle. Electrically, this is what the Atlas slider is, but toggles are smaller, more reliable and they can be mounted easily on a panel. However, since they self-center after you throw them, they don't provide an indication of which way the turnout is set.
Here are a couple drawings I did a couple years ago in response to the same question..
To add lights...
This may help
Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!
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Thanks for all the help guys.I got it working now.
Thanks again.