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Tortoise wiring help.

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  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Greece
  • 201 posts
Tortoise wiring help.
Posted by Railroad on Saturday, November 29, 2008 12:58 PM

Hello, i have a broblem with the tortoise wiring.I used the 3rd option from instalation manual - AC with steering diodes - but i am hearing a buzzzzzzz noise from the tortoise machine. I tried  also with a DC tranformer and there was no buzzzzz noise. Why is that?

The AC was 16V and i measured about 7,5 DCV after the diodes to the tortoise machine.

  • Member since
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  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:16 PM

 The machines receive pulsating DC when you use AC. With DC, no pulsating. Put your voltmeter on AC.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:28 PM

Yes, if i put the voltometer to AC i have 16 ACV. My broblem is the constant Buzzzzzzz noise from the tortoise machine when it is in standby.

  • Member since
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  • From: SE Minnesota
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Posted by jrbernier on Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:41 PM

  I use option 3 as well and have NO 'buzzing' - You have 'leaky' diodes.  Did you get the soldering iron too close to them when soldering them in?  Try this:

1 - Your DC voltage looks good - 7.5VDC is correct.

2 - Set your meter to the AC range and measure across the Tortoise - I suspect you are getting a small amount of AC voltage 'leaking' through.

  I use an old 16VAC 'wall wart' power supply for my Tortoises.  I have a pair of good size diodes that I picked up at the local Radio Shack(about 50 PIV/3 amp or greater) for under $2.00 each.  One pair provides all the power to a panel that controls 24 Tortoises at the club and has been powered on 24x7 for the past year.  The turnout move over in under on second and have been ultra reliable.  We also have  panel mounted 5mm bi-color LED's wired in series with each Tortoise to show which way each turnout is set.

Jim Bernier

 

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
  • 201 posts
Posted by Railroad on Sunday, November 30, 2008 12:34 PM

I changed the diodes with a new set but still have buzz noise. I tried the IN4004 diode that i had and is for 400v and 1 A.

I measured to the AC range across the tortoise and had 0.5 v. Is that wrong? The same with the new set of diodes

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
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Posted by jrbernier on Sunday, November 30, 2008 1:33 PM

  Yes, that 1/2 VAC is wrong, and that is why you have that 'buzz'.  Check your wiring.  Are you sure it looks like the diagram?  I run one of the 16VAC lead to both diodes(one reversed), and the other lead is my 'common'.  I then run the output ends of the diodes to the N & R 'bus' and out to the toggle switches.  The center contact on the toggle goes to pin #1 on the Tortoise, and pin #8 is wired to the 'common'.  I am using 50PIV/3A diodes I picked up at Radio Shack. 

  I have 10 Tortoise motors wired by 4 different 'wall warts' around my layout and have no 'buzz'.

 

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:46 PM

 At the tortoise motor, after the diodes, you won't have AC anymore. On a friend's layout, he uises a 12V AC bus around the layout and diodes at each switch to run the Tortoises, and they don't seem to have a buzzing noise. Only a few have constant power with toggles, though, and those are getting changed out. If you want to be sure of no buzz, use a DC power supply, 9 volts is plenty. A signle power supply withthe toggles wired as reversing switches (DPDT with the outside terminals diagonally connected, power to on end and output to tortoise from the middle) or use two power supplies. Connect the + of one power supply to the - of the other and connect this line common to one side of all tortoises. The free + of the one power supply goes to one outside terminal of a SPDT toggle, the free - from the other supply goes tot he otuer outside of all the SPDT toggles. Middle of each toggle goes to the other motor terminal on each Tortoise.

                                   --Randy

 

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Sunday, November 30, 2008 4:41 PM

Yes that is what i have done with the wiring,except that the common wire is in some tortoise at pin#1 and to other at pin 8. I do not know if that affect, but i have to say that i have wired with the common wire all the tortoise and when i started to connect  the first one with the wire from the center contact i hear the buzz noise. Maybe i have a sensitive ear Smile

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Sunday, November 30, 2008 5:17 PM

 It doesn't matter that some tortoises have the common wire connected to pin 1 and some to pin 8, it all works the same. Interchanging 1 and 8 will just change the direction it moves.

 This buzz - it's like an AC hum over the actual noise of the Tortoise, or just the Tortoise itself? They aren't the quietest things around, there's a lot of gears inside one. Particularly when they are run ont he full 12 volts, they can be quite noise. 6-9 is plenty, and they run a lot quieter.

                                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Ulster Co. NY
  • 1,464 posts
Posted by larak on Sunday, November 30, 2008 10:28 PM

Railroad
I measured to the AC range across the tortoise and had 0.5 v. Is that wrong? The same with the new set of diodes

 

Actually that is perfectly normal for an unfiltered half wave supply (what you have apparently built).

If you are sure that everything is wired correctly just filter the voltage with 470uF (not critical - can be larger) capacitors from diode outputs to common. Make SURE that the + sign on the capacitor goes to the + side of the DC voltage or it might explode. Capacitor voltage should also be at least 25volts for safety. If any of this is beyond your skills please do not attempt.

You have essentially two of these (ignore the values) with one diode and capacitor reversed and the lower wire common to both. The rectangle on the right is your tortoise.

The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open.  www.stremy.net

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Greece
  • 201 posts
Posted by Railroad on Sunday, November 30, 2008 11:11 PM

Well it seems that i,ll go with 2 DC transformers in series as the wiring is allready done and to be buzz and explode free.

Thank you all.

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