wiring toggle switches with c.d.u"s

[Anonymous]

Please help me if you can.

I am new to the forum, although have been reading many to find info.

I am using peco points and peco coil switches with my c.d. unit but my diagram sayes I should use momentary switches, one for each side of the points motor.

The c.d.u. has an led to indicate it is readt for use. I have considered using switches and one momentary switch wired in parrallel to return side of all switches, but would prefer to have to just flick a switch and have a led for each side of turnout indicating direction points are set to.

How should i do thiis? do i need a relay, would this help?

Garry0281

[stokesda]

If I understand correctly, you are using two pushbutton, normally open, momentary "on" switches per turnout - one for each direction the turnout goes. You can also use one standard SPDT or DPDT toggle switch instead of using two pushbutton switches. There's a couple of websites I know of that show you how to use toggle switches with twin-coil turnout motors.

This one shows you how to build an indicator circuit to go with your CDU. The down side is that you have to use momentary action switches, so they don't stay in the position you throw them. But that's why the LED indicator is there:

www.awrr.com --> click on "More Circuits" on the left menu --> click on "TURNOUT DIRECTION INDICATORS for TWIN-COILS & STALL MOTORS"

This one shows you how to use regular (non-momentary) toggle switches that can be used to indicate direction, but I don't think you'll be able to use your CDU with this circuit. It seems like you'll have to build what amounts to a separate CDU for each turnout motor. You can also use LED direction indicators with this one as well:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#62

Otherwise, you can probably use some sort of latching relay to drive LED indicators, but I don't know too much about that. I think there was a thread on that subject on this forum recently.

You also might try doing a google search for "twin coil turnout indicator" and see what you come up with.

Personally, I use Atlas switch motors, and have built and used the CDU on the first website with success. Just last night, I assembled 95% of my first turnout direction indicator circuit from that website as well, but haven't had a chance to test it out yet.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[MisterBeasley]

To provide the LED indicators, Peco makes an add-on for their switch machines.  This simply provides electrical contacts based on the physical position of the turnout coils.  You can then wire your LEDs through the contacts.  One nice advantage of this is that the contacts will throw over even if you use your fingers to physically throw the turnout.  (I think.  I don't actually have any of these.)

Or, you can get cheap latching relays.  Try www.allelectronics.com for these.  Since you already have the CDU, you can drive the less expensive DC relays directly, in parallel with your switch machines.  I've built a number of these to go with my Atlas switch machines.  They are probably cheaper than the Peco add-on contact unit, but there's a lot more wiring involved.  Atlas, by the way, also makes a latching relay as a separate unit.  It's a lot more expensive that just buying the little relay, but for the money you get very easy installation with screw terminals, and it will also operate on AC if that's the way you're running your twin-coils.

[letsgored]

My understanding is that if you're using Peco's twin coil motor (item PL-10), you can attach their PL-13 switch to the bottom and wire it to control your LED indicators.  The pin of the motor extends upward (to move the turnout points) and downward (allowing it to move the PL-13 switch) --when the motor moves the turnout points it simultaneously throws the PL-13 switch. I'm pretty sure the PL-13 is a SPDT switch, so it can be wired to illuminate one LED when in one position and another LED when in the other postition, which is what you'd need for a control panel LED indicator set up.

Peco also makes a more sophisticated multi-micro-switch device that can be attached to the bottom of their twin coil motor. I haven't looked into those since the PL-13 should handle my needs and is less expensive (I think the micro-switch device can activate multiple circuits simultaneously, which you'd want if your wanted the direction of the turnout to control different things, such as an LED indicator, a signal on your layout, power-routing to a part of your track, etc.).