Hi All,
I'm thinking about using a couple of Atlas remote turnouts for my crossover on my mainline, I want to wire up a couple of target signals made by Benscale to the turnouts, is that possible, or should I use a couple of tortise switch machines?? Does anyone have a diagram that I can see??
Thanks,,
You can use your Atlas twin-coil machines and all you need to add is an Atlas Snap Relay
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Atlas-200-Snap-Relay-p/atl-200.htm
You can probably just get away with one relay and it will follow your turnout position and you can wire your signal to it's outputs. It is a twin coil mated to a DPDT so you can even use one pole for the signal and the other pole to energize the frog.
Google Atlas 200 snap relay wiring diagram for examples.
Hope this helps, Ed
To throw 2 switch motors plus the relay all at the same time though, you will want to add a capacitor discharge power supply. Pretty simple to build, schamtics are on Rob Paisley's site, and in various electronic project books, or there are ready to use commercial models like the Circuitron Snapper. This gives you two things - a strong, powerful burst of power to operate the three solenoids, plus protection in case the control switch gets stuck - instantaneous current is high, but continuous current is very low, which keeps the switch machines from burning out.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hey
I agree with Randy the CD protects the motors and gives them a nice firm snap.
I built it with parts from Radio Shack, I believe for less than $10.
Cheers
Lee
LION uses Tortoises. LION puts one leg of the motor to GROUND, the other leg to an SPDT switch. The common from the electrical switch goes to the Tortoise, the other legs of the electrical switch goes to either +12vdc or -12vdc. In this manner the same wire also controls the signals. The leds are wired opposite to each other so that one will come on with +dc and the other with the -dc.
Since this is my standard, when I still had twin coil machines I used the Atlas 200 Relays in the same manner. THIS IS A MISTAKE, you cannot do that, because internal switch is a Make-Before-Break instead of the other way around. This causes a dead short within the switch, it is deprived of voltage to complete the movement, and the short remains.
If you must use an Atlas 200 Relay, the power must come from the common terminal so that there will be no short with the transiton.
Good latching relays can accomodate this, and draw a lot less current than an Atlas relay.
In wiring a twin coil machine, the lion uses momentary SPDT with the common to the switch points with +12 and -12 on the legs, and him uses rectifiers at the switch points so that they will be driven one way or the other. LION wants to wire the turnouts of him with only a single wire. Him has a large table, and many turnouts, him must do all he can to use as little wire as possible.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
The Atlas Snap Relay is a double-pole, double-throw (DPDT) latching relay. You can buy similar devices a lot cheaper, although they may require soldering instead of having convenient screw terminals.
If this crossover is at the front of your layout, consider the visual appeal of the slow-motion Tortoise.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I use under-table Atlas switch machines and one snap relay#200 at the crossovers for signal at the switch and incandesants for switch position on control panel with normally open push buttons, havn't had any need for a CD circuit, just use a dedicated power transformer rated at 4 amp's, have not had any problem's at all in 25+yrs. on a all DC cab control layout. Power packs are 3 MRC CM20's, only used for train control and voltage meters.
Take Care!
Frank
BTW: Like I said, they were installed yrs. ago, there were not any Tortoise's available then and the Atlas components were cheaper. If I had to do it over, I would probably go with a Tortoise, I just don't care for the slow-motion, prototypical or not.