How to connect a Tortoise switch machine and Atlas turnout? I checked out the DCC wiki page and wiringfordcc.com but not sure if they had correct information.
I know that Atlas custom line turnouts are DCC friendly, so the wiring should be fairly simple. Any suggestions or user-friendly diagrams is most appreciated.
Best,
Lee
It's in the instructions that come with the Tortoise, sort of. Figure 2 shows the switch contacts that you use. AN-6000-02 shows the hookup:
http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/AN/an-6000-02.pdf
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Are there panel lights or signals involved? How do you intend to power the tortoises?
www.metronorthnmra.org/archives/Tortoise%20Wiring-1.pdf
You asked this question before,
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/254991.aspx
Somehow your shirt pin comment escaped notice. Sounds like a short waiting to happen to me.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Since the throwbar hole is in the middle of the track, and the Atlas throwbars are plastic, holding the points with a shirt pin won't short anything. I use caulk to lay roadbed and track, with pushpins to hold where needed until the caulk sets up - I've driven trains right over a section of track with a line of push pins (the ones with the small round head, not those big ones commonly seen on pin-up boards - the 'pin' part of those is too short to actually go into the roadbed and hold the pin and track in place). The only real danger is if they are too close to the center and stick up too far, the Kadee trip pins might catch.
Wow this is annoying - the 'o' key on my keyboard is failing and I get 2 or 3 o's for every time I press it. Very odd as o is not used THAT much relative to others. I even play games on this computer sometimes and that uses WASD all the time. Oh well, time for a new one.
kasskaboose How to connect a Tortoise switch machine and Atlas turnout? I checked out the DCC wiki page and wiringfordcc.com but not sure if they had correct information. I know that Atlas custom line turnouts are DCC friendly, so the wiring should be fairly simple. Any suggestions or user-friendly diagrams is most appreciated. Best, Lee
Rich
Alton Junction
I had visions of a line of shirt pins like a snow fence on the sides of the turnout waiting to be knocked down between the rails
Randy you can gently pry the O key up off the keyboard and clean underneath.
Lee is there a specific question that you are confused about?
Rich: Thanks for the instructions. I might need to call Circuitron to get clarification about using multiple switch machines for one turnout. I highly doubt it but would be kinda cool.
All: I do have a DC throttle and can dedicate that to operating the switch machines. The wiring would go between the Tortoise, a DPDT, and the DC throttle? I would need one DPDT for each Tortoise? Pls clarify.
Cheers!
kasskaboose I might need to call Circuitron to get clarification about using multiple switch machines for one turnout.
I don't understand why you would want to do that.
kasskabooseI would need one DPDT for each Tortoise?
Sometimes. In a crossover from Main Line A to Main Line B both turnouts need to always be set properly in the correct orientation so a single DPDT would be the most efficient way to do it.
In a passing siding, it really wouldn't be prototypical or necessary for both turnouts to operate in unison. In a yard it would be unworkable to have all the turnouts operate with one DPDT.
In the Canadian Canyon Series on MRVP they used a Digitrax DS64 stationary decoder to control multiple routes through a yard. Push a button and multiple turnouts line up. That degree of sophistication is more complex and more costly than DPDT switches (which are less than $1/each on Ebay)
As Rich said (power source) to (DPDT) to (Tortoise)