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Switch Polarity Change

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  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Saturday, February 12, 2022 11:25 AM

I have five Walthers switch machines.  They were very easy to wire, and to connect to a control panel for lights and controls.

If I can do that, they must be simple to use.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Saturday, February 12, 2022 8:15 AM

gregc
don't understand all the labels and what their intended purposes are

They're all explained in the "Full Instructions" pdf linked to on the Walther's product page for the switch machine.

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
Posted by gregc on Saturday, February 12, 2022 6:14 AM

i saw that diagram.   don't believe the header pins are connected to the micro switches and don't understand all the labels and what their intended purposes are

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, February 11, 2022 7:09 PM

gregc
don't understand the header connections

 

 Walthers_turnout-servo by Edmund, on Flickr


 

https://www.walthers.com/products/walthers-control-system/layout-control-system


 

 

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
Posted by gregc on Friday, February 11, 2022 4:56 PM

1arfarf3
Does the Walthers machine change polarity when switch is thrown? Was advised Tortoises do.

looks like the Walthers switch machine has two micro switches which toggle when the switch machine position changes comparable to a Tortoise.  each microswitch is a SPDT.

don't understand the header connections

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Friday, February 11, 2022 3:36 PM

Tortoises can be wired to reverse polarity of the frog rails. It's not necessary if you have insulated frogs. I've used them both ways depending on the type of turnout I put them on. If it's an Atlas Custom Line, which a majority of my turnouts are, I don't bother. If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone exclusively with Tortoise machines and powered all my frogs but it would cost too much in time and expense to retrofit all my turnouts. 

As for the new Walthers turnouts, I have no experience with them. 

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Friday, February 11, 2022 2:31 PM

The page on Walthers' website says that the product includes "Two built-in 5A switches to power turnout frogs, signals, track blocks and more". I assume the internal switches do the same job that the #2 and #3 posts on the Tortoise do, but I cannot say for sure since I haven't used one of the Walthers switch machines. Maybe someone else can say from experience.

I cannot imagine that they would have all the technological features that they do and not have any mechanism for doing the one thing that for certain needs to be done upon throwing the bar.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    December 2009
  • 104 posts
Switch Polarity Change
Posted by 1arfarf3 on Friday, February 11, 2022 12:40 PM

Does the Walthers machine change polarity when switch is thrown? Was advised Tortoises do. 

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