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totally stumped wiring LEDS to a tortoise

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  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 61 posts
Posted by wolf10851 on Saturday, May 27, 2023 3:24 AM

ok I looked at that wrong last night.  you are correct that IS the correct way that they needed to be wired.  They are now working!

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 61 posts
Posted by wolf10851 on Friday, May 26, 2023 7:21 AM

gregc

 

 
wolf10851
3 wires common anode 

I then connected the annode to pin 5 of the tortoise along with a positive from acc bus.

I connected red cathode to pin 6 and green cathode to pin 7.

those both go to the negative acc bus.

 

the common anode resistor should be connect to + power.

pin 5 of the tortoise to - power

pins 6,7 to the cathode LEDs

this diagram shows connections for an LED with common cathode 

 

that is ALMOST identical to how I have it wired with the exception of there are 2 seperate LEDS but only 3 leads

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
Posted by gregc on Friday, May 26, 2023 6:44 AM

wolf10851
3 wires common anode 

I then connected the annode to pin 5 of the tortoise along with a positive from acc bus.

I connected red cathode to pin 6 and green cathode to pin 7.

those both go to the negative acc bus.

the common anode resistor should be connect to + power.

pin 5 of the tortoise to - power

pins 6,7 to the cathode LEDs

this diagram shows connections for an LED with common cathode 

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 61 posts
totally stumped wiring LEDS to a tortoise
Posted by wolf10851 on Friday, May 26, 2023 6:10 AM

I bought some dwarf signals and they came with 3 wires common anode with resistor, red cathode wire and green cathode wire.  I tested the LEDS and they work fine.  positive to the anode and negative to the green cathode and the green light illuminates +to the annode and - to the red cathode and the red light illuminates.  so far that is all great.  I then connected the annode to pin 5 of the tortoise along with a positive from acc bus.  I connected red cathode to pin 6 and green cathode to pin 7.  those both go to the negative acc bus.  I power up the layout and I get no lights at all.  I throw the switch which works fine but still no lights.  I disconnect either the red or the green wire from the negative bus and the lights work as they should (red wire disconnected and green lights for mainline and turns off for divergent)  I am using a switch8 so the tortoises are controlled by DCC and there are no togle or push button switches on the layout.  why can't I have both lights connected?

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