I have a red and green LED dwarf light that I would like to hook up to a hidden turnout run by a Tortoise switch machine such that I can tell the turnout's position with seeing the turnout. The Tortoise is controlled through a DCC accessory controller. Any thoughts?
I meant WITHOUT seeing the turnout. Sorry for the typo
This should do the trick for you: http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/tortoise/wiring-leds.htm
Good luck!
seasideI have a red and green LED dwarf light that I would like to hook up to a hidden turnout run by a Tortoise switch machine such that I can tell the turnout's position without seeing the turnout. The Tortoise is controlled through a DCC accessory controller.
1. You can put the LEDs into the power feed from the accessory decoder to the Tortoise motor. One each direction. The polarity sent to the tortoise will light one or the other LEDs.
2. You can tap a set of the Tortoise contacts (2,3 4 or 5,6,7) as a simple SPDT switch to turn one or the other LEDs on. Don't forget to put a resistor in the circuit.
3. There is probably a feed off the accessory controller just for this purpose. Read its manual and look for that option. Probably also requires a resistor.
4. If the turnout has a hot frog you can power the LEDs from the track power. Connect the "common" wire and resistor between them to the frog of the turnout and the other leads to the appropriate left or right rail.
5. You can add a micro-contact to the turnouts points and use that to light the appropriate LED.
seaside I have a red and green LED dwarf light that I would like to hook up to a hidden turnout run by a Tortoise switch machine such that I can tell the turnout's position with seeing the turnout. The Tortoise is controlled through a DCC accessory controller. Any thoughts?
To some extent, it depends upon the specific method of controlling the Tortoise, DCC accessory controller, DPDT switch, etc.
In my case, I use DPDT switches mounted on a control panel to control the Tortoise, using the #1 and #8 tabs on the Tortoise for the power wires from the DPDT switch. I use Tomar dwarf signals (green over red) on the layout to indicate the turnout direction (green=straight through / red=divergent). The dwarf has 3 wires, colored red, green and white. The red and green wires from the dwarf run to the #5 and #6 tabs on the Tortoise and the white wire from the dwarf runs to the AC side of a transformer set up under the layout. A second wire from the AC side of the transformer runs to the #7 tab on the Tortoise to complete the circuit. Lastly, as others have suggested, don't forget to install a resistor on each wire (red and green) leading from the dwarf to the Tortoise.
Rich
Alton Junction
Thanks for all the recommendations.
It looks like hooking up the LED directly to the Tortoise power is the easiest as the Tortoise itself acts as the current limiting resister.
John
Hi from Belgium,
I have a similar problems on my Maclau River RR in Nscale.
I just put the signal power on the power of my Switchmaster motor which control the turnout. I just put a resistor to protect the leds of the signal.
It's working great since many times and I can see the signal on the layout when running trains.
I beleive it's the simpliest way to acheive this effect.
Marc