I've been looking for something to power the standard Peco turnouts (HO scale). They of course have the nice centering spring, so I'm not looking for a tortoise machine type deal. In some places I don't have enough clearance for the hideous above track motor that Peco makes- What sort of products will work with the Peco turnouts that I can bury underneath?
Hold my beer... ya'll watch this!
Do a search for Peco's PL10 turnout motor.It is a twincoil type,is powerful and will operate forever.It instals under the turnout but has a part exceeding on the side,but being lower than the TO,it's easy to hide.For the areas where clearance is a problem,it can be installed so that it exceeds from either side of the TO.
Thanks, Jacktal! My Google-fu seemed to be lacking tonight trying to find something like that.
The PL10 is designed to be mounted directly to the underside of a Peco turnout. The machine has tabs which fit into slots on either side of the throwbar, manufactured into the ties. Once inserted and bent over, the machine is solidly locked to the turnout. You will need to cut out a space in the roadbed and sub-roadbed to accommodate the machine.
You can see one here:
No, wait, you can't see one here! That's the whole idea. When installing one of these, take a piece of thin cardboard and cut slots in it for the bar on the switch machine and the alignment pins. Paint the cardboard the color of your ballast. Mount the cardboard between the switch machine and the underside of the turnout. Then, you can ballast over it and the casual observer will never know there's a monster hole right there.
Wire the machine on your bench. It has small solder lugs, and it's just easier to do it on the bench than under the layout. Peco machines take more power than Atlas machines. I recommend a Capacitive Discharge circuit for all twin-coil machines, but for Pecos it's almost mandatory.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Welcome back. Along with many others I started following your layout progression from the very beginning.
I only use Peco turnouts and switch motors along with a Capacitive Discharge Unit (CDU) to give an extra electrical boost.
The picture will give you an idea as to what to expect. Attached is an auxilliary switch but is optional.
This setup if as fail proof as they come.
Looking at the hole I'm going to try making a rock face the way I cut out the hole.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
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Those are exactly what I'm looking for. I'll need to install about 6 on the layout it looks like.
I've got an electrician coming out this week to do the work and from there I'll be able to do the final join-up of the benchwork and finally start laying some track!
Bob- that is a beautiful unintentional rock face you made under there!