Page 3 on the Switch-Kat manual shows exactly how to hook up LEDs. Use one red, one green, and you'll have signals.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy,
NCE says The Switch-Kat has outputs for switch position indicator lights and it remembers the switch position when power is removed from the layout so that at power on, the indicator lights will show the correct switch position. So I was hoping I could connect the signal right to these outputs vs wiring LEDs with resistors.
I'm a new to DCC so please excuse my ignorance. If I can't connect directly your suggestion with the switch its and switch 8 will most likely be implemented. I just wished their was an easier way since when I purchased the switch kat the seller said it would accomplish both tasks; stationary decoder and operate my indicator lights/signals for routes.
Sheldon
Thanks for your response
The switch Kat is an NCE item that works with Kato turnouts. Unfortunately this item is not powerful enough to work with Kato's double crossover.
Thanks for the info Randy,
Kato track, N scale and stationary decoders are all off my radar - but signaling, that's something a know a little something about. Sounds like you have a good plan for the OP.
Switch-Kat is NCE's stationary decoder for Kato turnouts - Kato turnouts are special, they use DC pulses to move the coil. Polarity one way, it throws tot he diverging route, reverse polarity it throws to the normal route. There are only 2 wires to the switch motor instead of 3 like a traditional twin-coil, but the need momentary power, not continuous like a Tortoise.
You can't hook signals right to them, they have no continuous power. But you might be able to hook LED signals to a Switch-It and assign it the same address as the Switch-Ket so both operate at the same time. The Switch-It is designed to run Tortoises, so you cna use LEDs, but you'll need a resistor on each to limit the current to 10-15ma. You'll need a lot less Switch-Its since each one controls 2 turnouts, whereas the Switch-Kat is just one. You can probably also use a Switch-8, one of those with LEDs for every 8 Switch-Kats. The wiring diagrams in the instructions show how to put LEDs in series with the Tortoise - for your application you will simply replace the Tortoise with a resistor. Value of said resistor to be determined by the rating of the LEDs and the actual voltage that is applied at the output terminals. It's less than 12 volts, because a Tortoise connected to a Switch-It with no LEDs moves a bit slower than one connected directly to 12V.
Phillyfswitchkats
Is this a Kato term? Or something I missed in 40 years of model trains?
Yes you can connect signals to only indicate turnout position, it is one of the many things the prototype does.
signaling can be very simple or very complex, depending on what you want and how close you want to follow the prototype, and, what prototype you want to follow.
Hi
My name is Phil and I am in the process of building an N scale DCC layout. I will be utilizing NCE's Power Cab with Kato track.
Has anyone connected a signal directly to the switchkat? The signal would indicate the turnout position - main route or siding / secondary route.
Has anyone had any success attaching signals directly to the switchkats without installing a block system.?
I was thinking of installing the Atlas signals or some other suggested premanufactured signal that will work with the switch kats.
Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.