I'm interested in having turnout direction indicated by a dwarf signal. I found some old posts where someone has mentioned using the action of the turnout bar on a Peco turnout to operate a surface mounted switch of some sort. But I could never find anymore information on this and was wondering if anyone has any idea how it could be done and what components you would need.
The turnouts are already mounted on the layout and ballasted, so I'm looking for something with minimal disruption. I'm guessing the dwarf signal would be powered to green by default, and the turnout being thrown would move the throw bar into contact with a switch of some sort that would change the signal to red. Any information or guidance on how this might be accomplished is appreciated.
Thanks
Hi BigCityFreight,
One simple method is to use Tortoise switch machines. LEDs can be placed in series with the power supply to the Tortoise motor. No resistors are needed. You will need a +12v/-12v power supply to operate the Tortoise motors. As a bonus, the Tortoises can be used to control the polarity of the frog if you want to power the frogs.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Peco sell a PL13 turnout indicator that may be what you're looking for. It's designed to fit onto their switch machine but it can be adapted to be used without and installed underneath on your baseboard
Peco turnouts, both Insulfrogs and Electrofrogs, can be used independent of any switching devices to control trackside signals by drawing power from the rails.
On my current layout, I do this with spring loaded Peco Insulfrogs, using no other switching device but my finger to flip the points. Dwarf signals and searchlight signals are wired to the stock rails and frog rails to determine polarity on my DCC layout.
Rich
Alton Junction
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Rich,
This is very interesting as almost all my switches are spring-loaded Peco insulfrogs. Do you have any pictures or diagrams of the wiring? Do you put one wire on each rail prior to the points? And where (and how many) wires go to the frog? Does it matter if I have feeder wires beyond the turnout (I don't like to rely on just the turnout to route power)?
Todd
Henry,
This is exactly what I had heard about, though in my case I don't need to power the frogs - the switch would just flip the dwarf signal from green to red with the Peco switch handling everything else. I'm in HO not N, so I was wondering how you found a slide switch with the right amount of travel -- just trial and error?
BigCityFreight Rich, This is very interesting as almost all my switches are spring-loaded Peco insulfrogs. Do you have any pictures or diagrams of the wiring? Do you put one wire on each rail prior to the points? And where (and how many) wires go to the frog? Does it matter if I have feeder wires beyond the turnout (I don't like to rely on just the turnout to route power)? Thanks Todd
I connect the green signal to the straight stock rail to indicate the straight through route. I connect the red signal to the curved stock rail to indicate the divergent route. The common wire(s) from the signal connects to the frog rails.
On my dwarf signals, there are three wires, a white, red and green. The single white wire is internally split to the two LEDs, so that single white wire connects to both frog rails by splitting the common wire. If your signals have two white wires, connect one to each frog rail.
One last thing, if any of your signals are bi-polar LEDs, add a diode to the green wire to avoid bleeding the red and green together resulting in an amber color. The diode will prevent backfeed, so that the green and red are distinct.
BigCityFreight, are you using DCC or DC.
The method Rich is using will only be effective with DCC where there is power on the rails all the time.
I have been using the slide switch method for manual turnouts for about 20 years now, in HO, yes you just search around for sub miniature switches with enough throw, and I make a small wire "V" spring to connect them to the throw bar.
I use DPDT switches and use the contacts for powering frogs, DC power routing and signaling.
I do not use PECO turnouts.......
Sheldon
Todd it wasn't my video and I don't have Peco so I can't tell you which would work for you.