Recently back into the hobby after years away. I currently have everything DC with several remote controlled Atlas switches. Can I keep those running off my DC powerpack, but wire the track using a Power Cab. IF not what is the easiest way to power remote switches for turnouts via DCC. I am looking into converting to a PowerCab setup, but I am not sure how to keep my turnouts remote contolled. Sorry for such a noob question, I looked for answers to no avail.
I do not actually know but would like to know the answer as well. Responding to bump this up.
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The answer is yes, you can use the current power pack to run the Atlas switch machines and a DCC system to run the trains.
Mel's suggestion for a Capacitive Discharge unit for better performance and safety is a good one. The current power pack can be the voltage source for the capacitve discharge unit.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Avmus Recently back into the hobby after years away. I currently have everything DC with several remote controlled Atlas switches. Can I keep those running off my DC powerpack, but wire the track using a Power Cab.
Recently back into the hobby after years away. I currently have everything DC with several remote controlled Atlas switches. Can I keep those running off my DC powerpack, but wire the track using a Power Cab.
What type of switching devices are you using?
Rich
Alton Junction
Hello All,
When I converted my pike from DC control to DCC control I kept my turnout motors DC.
I use both Atlas and PECO solenoid type turnout motors.
Rather than using a DC power pack I bought a Plugin transformer, AKA "wall wart".
It is a Miniatronics brand and the output is 16 VAC @ 800 mA.
This is wired to a single-pole, single-throw, toggle switch so I can turn off the power at the control panel, without having to unplug it.
From there it powers two (2) Capacitive Discharge Units. One CDU powers half the turnouts and the other powers the other half of the turnouts.
Some have commented that one CDU would suffice but I chose to split the load across two (2) CDUs wired in parallel.
There are several crossovers where both turnout motors are activated simultaneously. Some are paired Atlas and some are paired PECO.
Before installing the CDUs the 16 VAC transformer didn't have enough "oomph" to move the paired PECO turnout motors simultaneously. With the CDUs both machines move in sync.
I use Atlas #0056 switch control boxes to activate the turnout motors whether Atlas or PECO.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Awesome info! thanks
Thanks for the reply. Everything right now is Atlas as that is what I am used to from 20 years ago. Figured I would get back into it where I left off.
Great info. I really want to get my track DCC and convert a few loco's but will take your model under heavy consideration going forward.
Thank you so much to everyone. Great info!!!!!Itching to get the track to DCC but really like how my switches are right now.
Avmus Thank you so much to everyone. Great info!!!!!Itching to get the track to DCC but really like how my switches are right now.
Just to comment, I've been using a DIY built capacitive discharge power supply for my Atlas switch machines since the mid-70's.
At the time RMC had a contributor by the name of Don Feihmann (not sure of the last name spelling) who designed the CD power supply plus illustrated how to selectively power up to 10 switch machines with a single miniature push button via one amp diodes in a matrix configuration.
The beauty of the diode matrix is you can selectively route trains through multiple turnouts with one push of the button. One or multiples of the same turnouts can be activated for different routing of the trains thanks to the unidirectional function of a diode where current will only pass through it in one direction.
I don't know the article dates but MR has published a few articles that depict how to create/use a diode matrix to control powering Atlas switch machines.
EDIT: I looked through my documentation folder and found the RMC issues I noted. The RMC January 1973 and February issues contained the 2-part article series by Don Fiehmann, with the capacitive discharge power supply design and components in the January issue and the diode matrix design and function description with pictorials in the February issue.
You might be able to find these 2 issues online or at a model RR show.
MR also published CD power supply circuits. They got included in a book Kalbach published called Practical Electronic Projects for Model Railroaders by Peter Throne. That's where I got the circuit for the one I used, back in the say when I still used solenoid switch motors (Atlas Snap Track N scale to be exact). I never used a CD unit with any or my HO layouts, and I had turnouts of all ages, some dating back to the early 60's if not older - never burned one out. But the Atlas N, and the newer Atlas HO ones, are MUCH more delicate and easy to burn out - after installing the CD unit on my N scale layout, I never burned out another switch machine ever.
Might find a copy of the book at a train show or something, it's long out of print. The CD units can be built despite the designs being 40+ years old, the components are still available. Some of the other circuits like the flashers and so forth, you might have a hard time sourcing the parts. And others, like the high frequency lighting for contants lighting of locos and passenger cars, are entirely unecessary with DCC.
There are also tons of CD schematics on the internet. Really there are about 5 components, they are SUPER easy and cheap to make. A great beginner electronic circuit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.