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Controlling routings through double slip switches

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Posted by Annonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 11:03 AM

Content removed due to a completely frak'ed up and incompetent Kalmbach customer service.

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  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
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Posted by gandydancer19 on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 10:57 AM

 

Our club has had to do something similar.

The best way we found was to use Tortoise machines because indicating LED's are simple to hook up in series with pins one or eight, and two of them can be controlled by a single DS64 output. The LED's are put on the control panel and that helps the operators see the route they have set.

The first thing we had to do is determine which points had to be moved for a single cross-over move between two tracks. Usually two sets of points, each on a different slip or turnout. These two points would have their Tortoise motors connected in parallel to one DS64 output. You need to handle each pair of parallel tracks the same way. I know it isn't as simple as it sounds, but you will just have to work through it, and it is possible.

Once you have them set up with switches on a panel, then you can start to program the DS64 for the routes you want. I think the hardest problem you are going to encounter is how to explain which switch to push for what route. We didn't use the route function, but just used control panel switches and LED's.

Elmer.

The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.

(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.

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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 6:11 AM

I have a Walthers Shinohara double slip on my layout.

It may be that one slip switch is equal to two normal turnouts overlapping each other, but it is much more difficult to visualize the points settings on a double slip compared to a simple turnout, a crossover, or a double crossover.

Without consistent practice and continuous operation, simply flipping two toggle switches to align the points correctly is a challenge.  I use LEDs on a control panel to get it right.

So, programming the double slip with routing circuitry is a valid consideration.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by Annonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 1:10 AM

Content removed due to a completely frak'ed up and incompetent Kalmbach customer service.

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  • From: N.E. Lancashire (off Jnt. 12, M65.
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Posted by john.pickles87 on Monday, April 2, 2012 6:26 AM

Hi Phil,

We've done near enough same, from the main into our float yard. we come off the main with medium right (set normal), and slip Point, then the 2 D/slips, first one to right Yard Loop & and back to Headshut (drill track I think), second right to Yard & back an Industrial Spur, then a faceing medium right point (set normal) reverse coming to the Old Dock, with the track going forward over board-joint to the Apron Loop.

As we run Dc and DCC all 4 joints round the slips have Insul F/plates for blocking and we use stud and E/pen fired by CDU for point operation which works fine for us, as we have a lot of DC that would take a lot of converting and we're also getting on a bit and only got one young en and he's a pain in the butt.

Be in touch.

pick.

 

 

?
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Posted by modelmaker51 on Monday, April 2, 2012 1:15 AM

Just think of them as two switches that are laying points-to- points. The left side is one switch and the right side is the other switch.

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

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Controlling routings through double slip switches
Posted by phillups on Sunday, April 1, 2012 5:38 PM

 

We have a three track main line with a 4th line branching off.  Due space constraints we had to incorporate a Peco large radius left turnout on track #1, and Peco double slip switches on tracks #2 & #3 interconnecting across the junction to the branch line diverging to the left from track #3 slip switch.  (We have been operating trains through this junction, principally straight through with only occasional peddler freights through diverging routes, quite successfully for two year throwing points by hand while we decide on how to control switch machines for this junction.  We utilize Digitrax DCC for locomotive throttle control and Digitrax PM42s for district circuit breakers and auto-reversing loops, so we are considering incorporating Digitrax DS64 stationary decoders to control this 5 switch machine crossover as we believe this would be the best approach for controlling multiple routings through the crossover.  Although several members favor conventional toggle switch operation on our control panel, we are also considering a routing matrix of pushbuttons:
1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4
2/2, 2/3, 2/4
3/3, 3,4
Has anyone had experience controlling slip switch crossovers?  We would be interested in all suggestions and any reference material available.
Chief Engr, Gulf Coast RR

 

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