I'm getting ready to install a couple of Tortoise switch machines on my layout (currently all turnouts are manual). I was considering the Tortoise Wabitt combo from Tony's Trains, my questions are, is it worth it and will I be able to throw the 2 turnouts using my Lenz system?
Yes, it will work with Lenz. But that's a lot to pay if you don;t need the auto-throw feature - you can get an NCE Switch-It for half the price of the Wabbit and do most of the same things.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The Wabbit is very expensive compared to an NCE SwitchIt or some other manufacturer's stationary decoder, and the only extra you're getting is "plug in" simplicity. It's not that difficult to solder wires to the Tortoise motor.
Since stationary decoders have their own address, any brand should work okay with your Lenz DCC system or any others.
I've never used a Wabbit, but have often wondered if the card edge connector fits tight enough onto the Tortoise that it won't jiggle loose and fall off over time or become corroded and lose contact.
I'm not a fan of those edge card connectors. They always struck me as not stable in the long run, that they would eventually potentially fall off. I remember workign on old computers back in the day where a drop of hot glue was used on connectors liek that installed horizontally to keep them from pulling loose - with a vertical position liek the Tortoise I think it would be even more critical. That's why I like what John Plocher did with his Tortoise controller design - he solders pins for a Molex connector to the Tortoise and has the shell and female half of the Molex on his circuit board. I don't think that will fall off by itself - and you could also use the same system to attach wires leading to other makes of stationary decoder or just panel toggles.
Another factor is getting the right connector. The Hare has the edge connector right on it - the Wabbit I don't think comes with those. Sometimes the correct ones are in stock - right now Tony seems to ahev them. But if you look at the big supply places like Mouser and Digi-key, the smallest common type you can find is a 10 position connector, not an 8 that the Tortoise needs.
No doubt the Hare and Wabbit are interesting devices, and if you only have a half-dozen or so turnouts it might be a worthwhile option. But to equip a large layout with these would cost an awful lot - by using a lower-cost plain stationary decoder and implementing the features of the Hare and Wabbit with a computer and JMRI could end up costing less.
Just somethign that struck me reading the Hare manual, the version with feedback costs $5 more than the version without. It seems the reason for this is the addition of an optoisolator plus the terminals. This is just to provide a contact set to connect to one of the various feedback devices offered by each DCC maker. My thought is - why? The built-in contacts of the Tortoise can certainly provide a switched connection to drive the inputs of the feedback device, and if the concern is internal shorting that could posisbly apply track voltage to those conenctions and damage said feedback device - I think you'd literally have to smash the Tortoise with a hammer to make that happen.
Thanks guys, Last night I ordered a NCE Switch It and 2 Tortoise switch machines. The turnouts I'll be using these machines on are handlaid with insulation gaps cut on both sides of the frogs. Will I need to solder a wire to the underside of the frogs to power the turnouts and does that wire attach to the Switch It or the Tortoise?
Your power feeders for the turnout get connected to one of the sets of auxiliary terminals on the Tortoise. I believe directions are included with the tortoise. The Switch-it gets connected to the end pads on the tortoise.
Martin Myers