I normally prefer toggle control to DCC control of turnouts, but if you really need to control turnout position from multiple points, DCC will do the job.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
ba&prrTry here: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/16272 Maybe of some help.
from the MRH thread
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
gmpullman ATLANTIC CENTRAL BUT, if you want/need to know which way the switch actually is at both locations becasue you likely cannot see the track from both locations, you need lights I believe the OP said he has LEDs in series with the Tortoise. At this point, I control the Tortoise turnout motors from one side of the layout with DPDT toggle switches connected to bi-color LEDs. I use bi-color LEDs red/green for the main or red/yellow for secondary routes. Plain and simple, in series with either wire going to the Tortoise. If the indication is not right, flip the LED 180°. This is the main panel at the East-end of Hickam Siding: Hickam Siding by Edmund, on Flickr This is one of my remote panels at the West end of Hickam Siding: IMG_0168 by Edmund, on Flickr IF the operator at the East-end dispatchers panel flips HIS toggle the indicator lights on this west panel reflect that change — and vice-versa. (digital cameras don't like LED colors too well) Regards, Ed
ATLANTIC CENTRAL BUT, if you want/need to know which way the switch actually is at both locations becasue you likely cannot see the track from both locations, you need lights
I believe the OP said he has LEDs in series with the Tortoise.
At this point, I control the Tortoise turnout motors from one side of the layout with DPDT toggle switches connected to bi-color LEDs.
I use bi-color LEDs red/green for the main or red/yellow for secondary routes. Plain and simple, in series with either wire going to the Tortoise. If the indication is not right, flip the LED 180°.
This is the main panel at the East-end of Hickam Siding:
Hickam Siding by Edmund, on Flickr
This is one of my remote panels at the West end of Hickam Siding:
IMG_0168 by Edmund, on Flickr
IF the operator at the East-end dispatchers panel flips HIS toggle the indicator lights on this west panel reflect that change — and vice-versa.
(digital cameras don't like LED colors too well)
Regards, Ed
I understand, but I find it confusing to not have the toggle always in the same postion relative to the track alignment.
And, I have small lighted pushbuttons right in the track diagram, elinimating the separate switch/light situation.
I also control complete routes with a single pushbutton in more complex interlockings.
Like this drawing. The red dots represent lighted pushbuttons. Pushing just one button on the straight or crossover routes aligns all four turnouts as needed for the selected route, and lights the correct lights to show the route, or routes in the case of straight thru.
And all of this is duplicated on the local tower panel and the CTC panel.
The control of both crossovers and the branch route requires five relays.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRALBUT, if you want/need to know which way the switch actually is at both locations becasue you likely cannot see the track from both locations, you need lights
Tortoise X2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Well, if the OP is interested, I can provide additional help. But I don't have a library of drawings already drawn showing the physical layout of the devices and point to point wiring.
And I don't have any photos that would provide any more clear explaination.
Ladder diagrams like this have been the standard of relay logic control diagrams for 100 years. The symbols are not that hard to understand.
A circle labled R1 or R2 is the relay coil. Two lines creating a gap in the wire is a normally open contact, labeled to match its coil. A slash across that contact symbol indicates a normally closed contact. A break in the wire, with two dots, and the upside down "T", is a normally open push button. The smaller circles labeled "LED" are, LED lamps.
Again, the circuit is similar to the latching relay circuit also offered, and provides the same function.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL BUT, if you want/need to know which way the switch actually is at both locations becasue you likely cannot see the track from both locations, you need lights or you need to use the pushbutton circuit above, or a similar circuit using two non latching relays. This circuit uses two non latching relays and normally open pushbuttons which can be lighted to show turnout position. You can have as many locations as you desire. I use this and similar circuits to control all my CTC/mainline turnouts from both the CTC panel and local tower panels. The lighted pushbuttons are in the track diagram so they actually show light up the selected route on the "map". Sheldon
BUT, if you want/need to know which way the switch actually is at both locations becasue you likely cannot see the track from both locations, you need lights or you need to use the pushbutton circuit above, or a similar circuit using two non latching relays.
This circuit uses two non latching relays and normally open pushbuttons which can be lighted to show turnout position. You can have as many locations as you desire.
I use this and similar circuits to control all my CTC/mainline turnouts from both the CTC panel and local tower panels.
The lighted pushbuttons are in the track diagram so they actually show light up the selected route on the "map".
JPD Keep in mind I might have a PhD, but I am not an electrician, so you have to explain this to me in simple terms.
Alton Junction
The way that you have already wired the Tortoise is sufficient to control it from both sides of the layout by simply adding a second DPDT toggle switch. You do not need to change over to momentary switches.
Here is a simple wiring diagram:
Rich
I use a latching relay to accomplish this. Here is the basic diagram. I actually ended up making a circuit board so that I could mount it directly on the tortoise machine using a edge connector.
I got the idea from this gentlemen's website.http://www.lkorailroad.com/tortoise-printed-circuit-boards/
Here is the link to relay I use. https://www.digikey.com/short/zp0j8b
Basic idea is that the pushbuttons activate the relay. Since it is a latching relay, when you let go of the pushbutton it stays in the position that it was set as. When you push the other button it set it the other direction. The nice part about this is you can have multiple inputs (different control panels).
Interal to the relay its pretty much a DPDT switch and wired the same way. The center poles of the switch go to tortoise/LED's and the outer ones are crossed over.
I hope this helps.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Yes, I've done this at several places around my layout.
Any number of Double-pole, Double-throw switches in series with the DC supply to the Tortoise will reverse the polarity at the 1 and 8 terminals. You can have a hundred if you wanted to.
No reason at all to use momentary or center-off switches.
I usually have my toggles arranged so that when the lever is in the down position the track is routed to the "normal" route through the turnout.
To remind operators that the specific turnout is controlled from multiple points I have the toggle set to flip side-to-side.
I use LEDs in series with one wire going to the Tortoise. To get a remote LED you will have to run an additional pair of wires back to the location of the remote toggle. I use cheap, flexible 22 ga. four conductor telephone wire. Gives me a pair for the Tortoise and a pair for the LED.
Some operators get fancy and use a key switch at the remote location in order to have "authority" over the dispatcher to operate the turnout. That is an option if you really want to get into rule-book operations.
Hope that helps, Ed
JPD At this point, I control the Tortoise turnout motors from one side of the layout with DPDT toggle switches connected to bi-color LEDs. However, I would like to be able to control the turnouts from both sides of the peninsula. How do I do this? Can I continue to use DPDT toggle switches or do I have to use momentary DPDT ON-OFF-ON toggle switches on both sides of the layout? Do I have to use push and release momentary button switches?
Let me find a wiring schematic that I drew up for myself, and I will post it.
Try here: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/16272 Maybe of some help.