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Atlas turnout switches

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • 29 posts
Posted by LLOYD on Monday, October 15, 2012 7:20 PM

Thank you all very much, It's a relief knowing I don't have to buy new switches..wiring is the easy part, Again thank you

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Sebring FL
  • 842 posts
Posted by floridaflyer on Monday, October 15, 2012 3:54 PM

Assuming you don't attach feeder wires to the areas that don't get power when the turnout is in the normal position, the engines will perform exactly as they did with DC. they will be dead on the divergent track Should you wish to override the 'power routing" feature of your altered turnouts, and have power all the time to the divergent track, simply attach feeder wired to the divergent track. 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, October 15, 2012 5:00 AM

When you cut that metal strip, the only thing that you did was to eliminate power beyond the divergent track of the turnout.  That permits you to run a loco on the main line in DC without also moving that loco on the siding.

In DCC, locos move in response to their decoders as opposed to DC where locos move in response to power applied to the rails. 

So, if you simply add a pair of feeder wires to the end of the divergent track on the turnout toward the siding, you will reapply power to the siding.  The loco on the powered siding will still sit motionless until the decoder receives instructions to move.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: The place where I come from is a small town. They think so small, they use small words.
  • 1,141 posts
Posted by twcenterprises on Sunday, October 14, 2012 10:19 PM

I don't foresee a problem, it sounds like you've set them up as "power routing" turnouts.  Just as before, when you "park" a train on a siding, and snap the switch, the train won't get power any more.  This should not pose a problem, as long as you don't need the train "powered up" for some reason.  And it'll save on current draw as well.  You could add a feeder wire(s) to the sidings if needed or desired, but if everything is working and running smoothly now, then it should continue to do so with DCC.

Brad

EMD - Every Model Different

ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil

CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • 29 posts
Atlas turnout switches
Posted by LLOYD on Sunday, October 14, 2012 10:03 PM

I have been running DC for many years and have converted all my Atlas snap switches to select control by cutting the metal strip connecting the positive rails.  Otherwords when a train is on the sideing after entering past the switch I snap the switch back to ther main line position and that loco won't run until I snap the switch back.   I want to go into DCC but I have many snap switches.  Is the a simple way to rewire them or do I have to replace all of them.  Also will I have problems with the old switches when I convert..Thanks

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