Wiring Turnouts with 2 Switches?

[kenben]

I'm looking for a schematic or simple wiring diagram on how I can wire up two DPDT switches for one trunout. The turnouts are powered by Tortoise switch motors. Each has one DPDT switch. I need to add a second DPDT switch allowing me access to switch the turnout in two different locations on the layout. 

Four turnout switchs are currently located in a "pop-up" or center cut-out area in the middle of the layout. To get to those switches you have to crawl under the layout to get to the center cut-out area. I'd like the option of not having to crawl under the layout just to switch those turnouts. If I'm running trains in that yard, I can switch those turnouts from the center cut-out area. But if I wnat to run trains and switch all the other turnouts on the entire layout, I have to be on the outside. So have to option to switch those four turnouts from either location would be preferable.

Thanks

 

[gmpullman]

Hi,

We had a discussion about this a few months back. There were quite a few suggestions.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/281990.aspx?page=1

 

I use two DPDT switches (you can actually add as many as you like as each one, when wired as a reversing switch will reverse the polarity to the Tortoise)

I also use LEDs at each location to alert me to the turnout (point) alignment.

Tortoise X2 by Edmund, on Flickr

Alternately, you could use one of the pair of SPDT switches on the Tortoise to feed your panel lights.

Good Luck, Ed

[gregc]

Lastspikemike

Unless I am missing something just wire up the second switch in parallel to the first switch. In other words, wire one and then wire the second in the same way.

the tortoise is controlled by the polarity of the voltage, not simply whether there's power or not like a light bulb.

Ed's solution allows either DPDT to change the polarity

[kenben]

Thanks for all the info. Great schematic to follow, Ed.

[freeway3]

Ed, I'm obviously not the OP, but this was a timely find for me as well - thanks for the description and schematic!

(another)

[gmpullman]

I'm glad that diagram helped some of you fellows out. The LEDs are optional, of course, but with the turnout points being a distance away you certainly would want a way of knowing which route is selected.

All of my toggles for turnouts are setup so the lever is down for the "normal" route. On the ones with two or more toggle switches I have those set so the lever moves side-to-side. 

I just made that quick sketch back when we were discussing this in the earlier thread. I'll have to clean it up a bit and repost the diagram. Maybe even make a sample of the wiring for a photo.

 

Thank you, Ed

[sol]

Lastspikemike

I realize that.

I use only twin solenoid motors at the moment but I have Walthers Tortoise version.

 

 

 

Walthers Tortoise?  never heard of them only Circuitron Tortoise

[hon30critter]

Lastspikemike

Unless I am missing something just wire up the second switch in parallel to the first switch. In other words, wire one and then wire the second in the same way.  The power connection can be daisy chained between the switches. Although power is always "on" to a Tortoise so maybe you cannot do that so simply. You may need a relay of some sort to kick out the one switch as you activate the other.

Ed has shown the easiest way to wire multiple Tortoise control switches. No relays required. Relays would complicate the wiring enormously. At a minimum they would require another power supply to operate them. Absolutely not necessary.

Dave

[RR_Mel]

 

I agree with Ed’s drawing.  I was going to work up a CAD drawing but I found a nice diagram on another Forum.

 

 

I might point out that having LED indicators at both switches is kinda necessary, the Tortoise DPDT switch handles won’t show the position of the turnout.  They will work like the two way light switches in your home, up doesn’t always mean on.

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad  

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

 

 

 

[gregc]

Lastspikemike

Either two sets of indicator lights are required or the one set needs to be visible from either switch location.  

that never occured to me 

[rrinker]

 Using 2 switches for a Tortoise, they would be wired in series. It would be like having "3 way" light switches in your house - they wouldn't always agree by handle position. If the indicator lights are wired in series with the Tortoise motor though, they would always indicate correctly at both locations, even if the toggle handle doesn't agree. Pushbuttons and a latching relay, along with indicators, would allow for multiple location control with always correct indicators - Sheldon has posted a digram for this before, just using relay diagrams instead of electrical schematics. With the latching relay and pushbuttons, you aren't limited in number of operating loccations (well, you aren't with a series of DPDT toggles, either, but you end up with wires running all over the place, both for the switch wiring and for the indicators). If using relays bugs you, Rob Paisly has some circuits using a 555 time to switch a Tortoise via poushbuttons, and he may have one using other digital logic as well - if not, such circuits are all over the place. It's fairly easy because of the low current draw of a Tortoise, although the 555 timer version has enough output current to handle the higher current Tortoise alternatives like Cobalt.

                                      --Randy