Walthers 90 DCC turntable

[HaroldA]

selector

Look at it this way, Harold:  DCC suggests you are issuing instructions via your hand-held to a decoder, either a stationary one that controls 'something' on your layout, or the mobile kind with or without sound...the ones in our engines and some rolling stock...maybe.

 

So far, none of the Walther's TT's are DCC by that criterion.  The built-up indexed kit, which is my second such 90'er, is digitally operated with a paddle and buttons, but not my hand-held Digitrax DT400 throttles with which I control my locomotives.

The built-up turntables are units meant to be set in place and used as a unit.  Think of it as a complicated light switch.  You provide it its correct power supply, set it in place, and you drive locomotives onto it and turn them with this fancy light switch.  That's it!  The device gets no signal or power from your DCC system...and you cannot run it from your hand-held.  It has its own paddle of sorts which I mounted on the fascia of my layout with those adhesive velcro pads you get at the hardware store.

So, in sum, it is indeed a digitally managed device...digital memory for the indexing to the places where you say you want it to stop for locomotives to enter or leave the bridge based on position and orientation of any radial tracks you have on your layout.  But it aint' got no decoder, certainly none that your DCC system will ever acknowledge. 

 

Walthers seems to be offering a rather costly new upgrade kit that does have a decoder so that you can index the first version that you also had to motorize yourself, but you will also control via your DCC system.  I think this is what they are doing.

-Crandell

Crandall -

Thanks for clearing that up for my foggy and sometimes underused brain.

Harold 

[ironrails]

Walther's latest release of their powered and indexed Cornerstone "Built-up" turntables (HO and N) will be DCC controlled, i.e. can be controlled from your DCC system. They are supposedly due in on October 26th, and look to cost $20 more (now $349 versus $329) than the previous powered and indexed "Built-Up" turntables which did not include DCC control capability.

The part numbers in the Walther's email quoted above specifically indicate that the potential upgrade kit is not intended for the older non-powered turntable kits, but rather to convert the non-DCC controlled "Built-Up" to be the same as the new DCC controlled "Built-Up".

Regards,

Mike MacLatchy

[selector]

Look at it this way, Harold:  DCC suggests you are issuing instructions via your hand-held to a decoder, either a stationary one that controls 'something' on your layout, or the mobile kind with or without sound...the ones in our engines and some rolling stock...maybe.

 

So far, none of the Walther's TT's are DCC by that criterion.  The built-up indexed kit, which is my second such 90'er, is digitally operated with a paddle and buttons, but not my hand-held Digitrax DT400 throttles with which I control my locomotives.

The built-up turntables are units meant to be set in place and used as a unit.  Think of it as a complicated light switch.  You provide it its correct power supply, set it in place, and you drive locomotives onto it and turn them with this fancy light switch.  That's it!  The device gets no signal or power from your DCC system...and you cannot run it from your hand-held.  It has its own paddle of sorts which I mounted on the fascia of my layout with those adhesive velcro pads you get at the hardware store.

So, in sum, it is indeed a digitally managed device...digital memory for the indexing to the places where you say you want it to stop for locomotives to enter or leave the bridge based on position and orientation of any radial tracks you have on your layout.  But it aint' got no decoder, certainly none that your DCC system will ever acknowledge. 

 

Walthers seems to be offering a rather costly new upgrade kit that does have a decoder so that you can index the first version that you also had to motorize yourself, but you will also control via your DCC system.  I think this is what they are doing.

-Crandell

[rrinker]

 The 'previous' built up turntables witht he electronic indexing work just fine on a DCC layout. There are no issues. The control of the rotation is via the included control panel,. not DCC. The 'new' version allows for control from the DCC system, that's the only real difference. Either one works with track powered by DC or DCC, you do not need this new version just to be able to connect the track to DCC.

 Several web sites show how to modify the original control box to allow the buttons to be operated from DCC commands. Naturally, opening it up and soldering wires on voids the warranty. This new version skips the DIY and has the DCC capability built in. Again, this has nothing to do with the way the track gets powered, only with what actually tells the turntable to spin to a different track.

             --Randy

 

[HaroldA]

I am at a loss when I read this thread and the other one about DCC and the Walthers turntable.  I am installing one right now on my DCC layout and did so according to the instructions provided by Walthers.  I read that they are DCC compatible not DCC equipped but I am not anticipating any problems with shorts because of polarity issues.  Is this the concern about DCC and the turntable circuitry?  Like I said I am at a loss.

Now that said, here is the response from Walthers from the previous post and I was interested in that is costs $179 and apparently isn't available since they are taking backorders.  Like I said I am at a loss, but spend another $179 if there isn't an issue with the current built-up turntable and DCC?  Maybe someone can set me straight.

Hello:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Walthers does intend to make available a DCC Conversion Kit for the previously released Walthers Built-up DC turntables.  This kit is only designed to adapt to Walthers part numbers 933-2840 (Walthers HO-Scale 90’ Built-up Turntable), 933-2829 (Walthers HO-Scale 130’ Built-up Turntable), and 933-2613 (Walthers N-Scale 130’ Built-up Turntable).  We expect this to be available mid to late October after the initial release of the DCC turntables.

This kit will not adapt to any of the Walthers turntable kits; such as the 933-3135 and 933-3171 (Walthers HO-Scale 90’ Turntable Kit), 933-3203 (Walthers N-Scale 120’ Turntable Kit), or turntables produced by other manufacturers.

The Conversion Kit will be available for sale through Walthers Product Support from our Parts and Warranty Department.

The kit will include the control box with electronics, the appropriate printed circuit board for the bridge of the turntable, and complete instructions.  The price of this conversion kit will be $179.98 plus shipping and handling charges as applicable.

We are accepting backorders for the kit right now.  We do require a credit card to secure any back ordered item.  We accept the following major credit cards: American Express, Discover, Master Card, and Visa.  We are not set up to accept payments from PayPal®.  You may contact us toll free at [phone] begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              [phone]      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

For consumer domestic backorders, provided that the shipment of the item goes through the regular mail, typically Surface Parcel Post, the handling charge is 10% of the value of the order with a minimum charge of $3.00 and a maximum charge of $5.50.

For international consumer backorders, the handling charge is $6.25 and then our standard foreign freight charge is applied.  For Canadian customers the freight charge is 15% of the total on transactions of $150.00 and under or 10% of the total on transactions of $150.01 or more.  For all other international customers the freight charge is 20% of the total on transactions of $150.00 and under or 15% of the total on transactions of $150.01 or more.

ATTENTION: Please be aware that this conversion is for the experienced modeler.  The installation will require electronic knowledge and soldering skills.  You should not attempt installation if you feel unsure about performing this conversion.  Contact a qualified person to do the conversion.  At this point, Walthers is not able to provide a conversion service.

In addition, any consumer damage will not be covered by any type of warranty.  Should a problem arise we will be asking that you send us the product.  No warranty claim will be accepted until inspection is complete and cause of problem is determined.

I hope that this provides you with answers your questions. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

Sincerely,

[selector]

I used to have the kit, but it had issues, and this seemed to be the shared experience with many others here.  I sent it to a member on this list so that he could use the motor, and purchased the 90' built-up model with the indexing.  It is a gem, and well worth the money, even more if you can get a bit of a deal.

Note that this turntable is not 'DCC'.  It is digitally managed, but it can be used on any type of rail system, provided it has its a power supply meeting the specs put forth by Walthers.

Some people have reported that they tried a DC power supply at first, but ended up getting an AC one.  I opted for an AC power supply at the outset, 16 volt, and tested by the electronics store at 0.5 amps output.  It was worked well.

I have heard, but not read, that you can get a digital control now for the kit version.  Personally, I would no longer consider that approach because the kit has other significant problems that make any reliable use of it iffy...in my opinion.   For example, the pit was too often out of round.

-Crandell

[richhotrain]

don_csx

I already have a Walthers 90 turntable on my layout but I'm looking to getting the the Walthers DCC turntable. Has any one used or see the turntable in use? How did it do? Is it worth the money? Is there a kit available with just the DCC electronics for the turntable or does one have to buy the complete package?

Duck

Duck,

I will be interested in the answers you get to this question which, incidentally was already recently asked on this forum.

To me, as an owner of the Walthers 130' turntable, pre-DCC equipped, I see no advantage to the new DCC equipped version.  You can easily operate the turntable with the control box that is provided with it and it is indexed if you prefer that feature.  I don't see what DCC adds, so IMHO it is not worth the money to buy the DCC equipped version.

Rich

[don_csx]

I already have a Walthers 90 turntable on my layout but I'm looking to getting the the Walthers DCC turntable. Has any one used or see the turntable in use? How did it do? Is it worth the money? Is there a kit available with just the DCC electronics for the turntable or does one have to buy the complete package?

Duck