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Atlas twin switches

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  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 137 posts
Atlas twin switches
Posted by Dave K on Thursday, March 25, 2021 7:32 AM

I purchased several twin switches to reverse polarity on two turnbacks that I have on my N gauge layout.  Neither switch works.  I tested them with a DVM.  Applied 5 volts at the input terminals and tested output in the 3 positions.  Erratic or no voltage.  These switches look too good to be true.  Going back to simpler DPDT toggle switches.  Anyone have success using the Atlass twin switch to reverse polarity?

 

Regards,

Dave K.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Thursday, March 25, 2021 8:21 AM

Dave K

I purchased several twin switches to reverse polarity on two turnbacks that I have on my N gauge layout.  Neither switch works.  I tested them with a DVM.  Applied 5 volts at the input terminals and tested output in the 3 positions.  Erratic or no voltage.  These switches look too good to be true.  Going back to simpler DPDT toggle switches.  Anyone have success using the Atlass twin switch to reverse polarity?

 

Regards,

Dave K.

 

Sorry with wrong infomation I'd given earlier.

Updated infomation.

This item is Atlas Twin Switch #210. Any chance of corroded contacts in the control it's self? Maybe push down on the red lever button while moving the red lever button up and down. I have used over two dozen, if not more and no less, of these controls on three different layouts. No problems with my #210 Twin Switchs to date.

You will have no voltage/current when the Red lever switch is in the center/off position.

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 137 posts
Posted by Dave K on Thursday, March 25, 2021 2:20 PM

These are brand new switches.  Atlas claims that there is no center off position.  I do not like the flimsy design and construction.  I purchased goo dol mechanical 6 post DPDT switches.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Thursday, March 25, 2021 10:04 PM

Dave K

These are brand new switches.  Atlas claims that there is no center off position.  I do not like the flimsy design and construction.  I purchased good old mechanical 6 post DPDT switches.

 

I guess that is correct, no center off position where the red button stops in the center. Just a dead spot between the up and down positions. Your new DPDT toggle switchs will not take up the space the Atlas Twin does and they will look much better.   

Oh and the techs. at Atlas did not know their HO Northeastern Caboose had a resistor inside the axles to trip light signal systems.

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 137 posts
Posted by Dave K on Friday, March 26, 2021 6:40 AM

I used to have high regard for Atlas.

 

Dave

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Sunday, March 28, 2021 4:28 PM

Lastspikemike

There is definitely a center off position in the two Twin Switches I have. Mine are new old stock made in the USA. All my Atlas made in the USA switches work except the 220 controllers. Some of those are a bit iffy. It's the plastic switches that cause the problem usually by not properly actuating the metal contacts inside the unit which in turn connect to a printed circuit board. 

Plus on a few I've noted  that the captive nuts strip outbif tgecposstiv recesses far too easily.  Quality has definitely declined. 

 

Yep, there is a center off/dead spot in the Twin Switch. I would center the red lever and kill the current going to that track and hold the train. We all should know what would happed if these switchs had no center off/dead when in the center postion. Sparks would fly with a ''make-make'' switch with no ''break''.  

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