Easiest way is to look at the terminals as if it were a 6 cylinder engine.
So you have 1-3-5 on the left, and 2-4-6 on the right.
Power comes in one 1 and 2. (They are contacts, as are 5 and 6.)
A wire is used to connect 1 and 6, and another for 2 and 5, forming an "X".
Power is routed out on 3 and 4. Which are the blades of the switch.
You can use the 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 pairs interchangeably for in/out. The real secret to wiring is that it should be neat and consistent, which makes troubleshooting and repair easier. (Not that I really follow that rule all the time.)
as randy points out, it can be done either way, either the X as the feed in, or the feed out, it doesn't matter at all.
As long as you have the X from 1-6 and 2-5, the following are all valid:
1-2 to power, 3-4 to track
5-6 to power, 3-4 to track
3-4 to power, 1-2 to track
3-4 to power, 5-6 to track
My advice is to make all such controls the same so you don't confuse yourself later on. And tag the wires, because a year from now you'll never remember which two go to power and which two go to the track.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
wjstix The wires from 3 and 4 go to the track. Power from the powerpack goes onto 1-2 or 5-6. Because of the X you added, the output from 3 and 4 will be reversed depending which way you throw the toggleswitch.
The wires from 3 and 4 go to the track. Power from the powerpack goes onto 1-2 or 5-6. Because of the X you added, the output from 3 and 4 will be reversed depending which way you throw the toggleswitch.
Thanks! I knew something wasn't making sence the way I was looking at it.
loathar Been a while since I did this. Putting in the switches/wire for my TT bridge track power. DPDT switch. (top on, bottom on) X solder 1-6 and 2-5, right? Buss power to 3 and 4. 1 and 2 to track, 5 and 6 to track. Right? Flip switch, polarity reverses. Right? And I can jump 1-5 and 2-6 and go to my track with just two wires, right??(my brain's getting old...)
Been a while since I did this. Putting in the switches/wire for my TT bridge track power. DPDT switch. (top on, bottom on) X solder 1-6 and 2-5, right? Buss power to 3 and 4. 1 and 2 to track, 5 and 6 to track. Right? Flip switch, polarity reverses. Right? And I can jump 1-5 and 2-6 and go to my track with just two wires, right??(my brain's getting old...)
It sounds a bit confusing the way you said it, but you don't need two sets of wires to the track. (1 and 2 to track, 5 and 6 to track). One set will do since you've put the "X" of wires from 1-6 and 2-5. But your last sentence seems to indicate you've figured this out.