Horizontal or vertical mount?
Any preferences? Tips? Ease of mounting? Ease of connecting cables? Etc......
I've used some of the Walthers switch machines on my HO layout. Installation was no more difficult than other types of machines.....good alignment is everything. What I really like is how easy they are to integrate into your DCC system. Just power them from your DCC buss..... nothing extra to buy. They are easy to connect with servo-type of cables. There are also two sets of aux contacts if you want to power the frog and these you'll most likely solder. So far, mine have been reliable.
Horizontal or Vertical?: It's nice that they offer both orientations, but I'd recommend vertical where you have space. I used the horizontal mounts in a couple of places with low clearance and ran into one problem: there are two screws that you will need to access to adjust the throw/tension. On the horizontally mounted machine, they will be facing the layout. This makes them pretty much impossible to adjust without removing the switch machine from the layout.
LastspikemikeI bought the separate 12v DC powerpack. Is that unnecessary for DCC layouts, the motors accept DCC current?
Yes, you can power these directly from the DCC bus (which is what I'm doing). Then, you can control these from the accessory buttons on your DCC system or from a cab on your computer or other device.
From the Walthers documentation, you have three ways to power these machines. All three require their power distribution block (part no. 942-111). You can power them using (1) 10-18 volts DC to the screw terminals on the distribution block, or (2) DCC bus to the screw terminals on the distribution block, or (3) Walthers 12 volt power supply to the jack on the distribution block.
If you want to go the DCC route and have a lot of their switch machines, it is recommended that you use a separate booster for your switch machines. I have a small tabletop switching layout where everything is easy to reach, so I've put everything in a single power district. It works just fine.
Walthers has a 20+ page manual on their system (on their web site), and I've found it very helpful.
I have five of the Walther's switch machines. I got them on sale quite a bit cheaper than other systems. Of course, they were still more expensive than making my own from servos and other things, but I'm not smart enough to do that.
One of those is a horizontal one. I was happy they made the horizontal one because it just fit between a table support and the table.
If not for that, I think the vertical ones are a little easier to work with.
I have the switch machines powered by separate power. I didn't want to use the DCC power for that.
I also did not consider using the DCC controller to run the switch machines. I have enough trouble keeping the locomotives straight while running trains, and I didn't want to make more trouble using the DCC controller to change the switches.
Walthers makes very easy-to-use connections to switch controls and lights mounted on fascia.
York1 John