What kind of motor does Walthers use in their turntable drive that is built into the bridge? I wonder if I could drive it with a regular speed controller or does it require something like a stepper motor controller.
I'm not concerned with automatic indexing.
Mark Vinski
i believe it's a common12V dc motor
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I bought a walthers turntable on ebay with no controller. I will be using a double throw double pole center off nonlatching switch to control it. The switch I described needs to be held in either position but returns to center off when released and will allow rotation in either direction.
Which model of turntable? The pre-2002 kit, plus motorizing kit? Maybe the post 2005 'built-up' indexable model? Or the new DCC model? It makes a bit of a difference, especially if you'd like to take advantage of Walther's stated or implied warranties for these rather costly items.
The motor on the model kit, which is a separate purchase, can be controlled via a simple toggle off of your DC outputs. Dial up the speed as you wish, reverse as you wish. You will need to reverse the polarity, though, as you seem to know already.
AFAIK, the DCC and 'built-up indexable' variants have split rail designs, so no reversing needed, provided your bay rails and approach lead are all oriented the same way, left rail 'red', right rail 'black', or whatever.
Walthers states that the motor control is separate, requires a paddle controller (included in the purchase, with bus cable) and a separate power supply that can be either DC or AC, and between I seem to remember 12 and 18 volts....but don't quote me on that...it has been a few years. Separate purchase.
My controller went bad last year and since I had the original Walthers turntable, I couldn't get a replacement. What I have done is cut off the bottom of the center post with the concentric brass rings and run wire from my to the bridge tracks and a two strand wire to the motor. I hooked those wires to a Bachmann power pack. Rather than using a directional switch, direction is controlled with the throttle. The 12 o'clock position is off. I wired it so when I turn the throttle clockwise, the TT moves clockwise and when I turn counter clockwise, the TT does the same. Polarity to the bridge tracks won't be automatic. I use a SPDT switch to change polarity based on the position of the TT bridge. Learning to line the bridge track up to the leads takes a bit of acquired skill, but it seems to be working. Also, I can't keep turning the bridge in the same direction or the wires would become twisted. I alternate clockwise and counter clockwise turns based on which end the motor is on.