What need to convret a turnout to Decoder control?

[cudaken]

 I have about 5 turnouts that I want to convert from hand thrown to DCC controlled. More than likely I will go with the tortoise, then what?

 Do the decoders come in blocks, I seen boards on Tony Train World that I think where for controlling turnouts.

 I do know the motors mount under the bench. Problem I have is 3 of the turnouts are mounted over 2X4 frames so they will need to have a arm and holes drilled to control the turnout. Tips and pictures would be of great help.

 3 of the turn outs are Atlas and 2 are Peaco,both Peaco's are over braces and 1 Atlas.

 I running a Digitrax (like you guys don't know by now) SEB. Do I power the decoder from the rails or use the Loc Net? If by Loc Net can I hook it to a UP 5 faces plate?

 Thanks in advances. Ken

 

[mfm37]

 Ken,

The turnout motors get installed same way they always do. To control the turnout motors with DCC you will install accessory decoders to run the motors. Your choice on the decoders, they will all work across systems same as mobile decoders.

I like the Digitrax DS64 and NCE Switch-its for Tortoise motors. DS64 has 4 outputs, Switch-it has 2.  I like them because in addition to controlling them with a throttle, they also have the option of using a pushbutton. They won't break the bank either.

Martin Myers

[rrinker]

I've used Switch-Its with great success with my Digitrax stuff. However, after seeing various articles I am seriously considering using these on the new layout: http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/quadservodecoder.html

Seems pricey but consider the $98 kit includes the servos - Tortoises go for $15+ these days, plus most stationary decoders are in the $10 per output range, so for 4 Turtles and decoders you're at the same price. Plus, have soem crazy linkage need - just check out the model plane section of the LHS for all sorts of stuff to work with the servos. Me, I'd get the kit and solder it myself and save a few bucks more.

                                          --Randy

 

[jbinkley60]

mfm37

 Ken,

The turnout motors get installed same way they always do. To control the turnout motors with DCC you will install accessory decoders to run the motors. Your choice on the decoders, they will all work across systems same as mobile decoders.

I like the Digitrax DS64 and NCE Switch-its for Tortoise motors. DS64 has 4 outputs, Switch-it has 2.  I like them because in addition to controlling them with a throttle, they also have the option of using a pushbutton. They won't break the bank either.

Martin Myers

You can also use the Digitrax DS44s, if you want the least expensive solution, don't need cascaded routes or pushbuttons and are fine using track power.  I have both DS64s and a DS44.  They work extremely well wioth Tortoises and Digitrax systems.

 

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 If you decide to run Tortoise swm they can be run on either DC or AC power your choice, I run several DS64 units which will work on either stall motor type or twin coil type like Tortoise and Atlas respectively the only draw back is that you can not mix the two you have to run either one or the other type, IE no two stall motors and two twin coil . I make use of a whole heap of old Atlas twin col machines and code 100 track left over from my old layout for a big hidden staging yard in the next room. So I have 2 DS64's dedicated to that yard the others are used on the layout it self which have all Turtles at the moment but eventually will have some "Flea" turnouts from Cypress Engineering. They have a dcc decoder built into the turnout with a micro motor. A bit pricey but by the time you add up the cost of a turnout +Switch machine+stationary decoder it's almost the same price.

 The DS64 comes program default for twin coil machine but can be easily reflashed for stall motor type.

[rrinker]

One critical fault with anything powered from the track power - if you run against an open switch and short out the track - how can you throw the switch to get it lined properly and clear the short? For 'external' decoders like the DS44, you can run a seperate 'track power' bus from a breaker to the decoders - thus the short will trip the breaker pwoering that section of track but the stationary decoder will have track power. With the built-in decoder like the Flea, I don't think this is possible, at least without modifying the turnout/decoder/motor to provide an 'external' track power connection.

                            --Randy

[jbinkley60]

rrinker

One critical fault with anything powered from the track power - if you run against an open switch and short out the track - how can you throw the switch to get it lined properly and clear the short? For 'external' decoders like the DS44, you can run a seperate 'track power' bus from a breaker to the decoders - thus the short will trip the breaker pwoering that section of track but the stationary decoder will have track power. With the built-in decoder like the Flea, I don't think this is possible, at least without modifying the turnout/decoder/motor to provide an 'external' track power connection.

                            --Randy

Excellent potential point about the Flea.  In my case, I have multiple power districts.  The DS44 doesn't run on the same breaker as the turnouts it controls.  That resolves the issue for me.

 

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

rrinker

One critical fault with anything powered from the track power - if you run against an open switch and short out the track - how can you throw the switch to get it lined properly and clear the short? For 'external' decoders like the DS44, you can run a seperate 'track power' bus from a breaker to the decoders - thus the short will trip the breaker pwoering that section of track but the stationary decoder will have track power. With the built-in decoder like the Flea, I don't think this is possible, at least without modifying the turnout/decoder/motor to provide an 'external' track power connection.

                            --Randy

 

 With the Flea you have the option to run a separate power supply if you choose. As a general rule of thumb as I am sure you are aware of nothing is powered off the main buss except the track

 

 

 http://www.cypress-engineering.com/UserManual2.4a.pdf

[rrinker]

Allegheny2-6-6-6

rrinker

One critical fault with anything powered from the track power - if you run against an open switch and short out the track - how can you throw the switch to get it lined properly and clear the short? For 'external' decoders like the DS44, you can run a seperate 'track power' bus from a breaker to the decoders - thus the short will trip the breaker pwoering that section of track but the stationary decoder will have track power. With the built-in decoder like the Flea, I don't think this is possible, at least without modifying the turnout/decoder/motor to provide an 'external' track power connection.

                            --Randy

 

 With the Flea you have the option to run a separate power supply if you choose. As a general rule of thumb as I am sure you are aware of nothing is powered off the main buss except the track

 

 

 http://www.cypress-engineering.com/UserManual2.4a.pdf

It's a little tricky, as the manual states that the external power must be a higher voltage than the track voltage. I guess if you use a seperate booster for stationary decoders and set it to a higher track voltage setting...

Second issue with one decoder per turnout - even the smallest microcontrolelrs have sufficient outputs to drive at least 2 turnouts, and the incremental costs to one that drives 8 or more is measured in pennies, even at the "individual experimenter buying just 1 or 2 pieces" price level. Compare pricing of, say, the Hare and Wabbit. Hare drives 1 Tortoise, Wabbit drives 2. The basic Wabbit is actually $1 cheaper - savings on the edge connector I guess.

                              --Randy

 

[CSX Robert]

Allegheny2-6-6-6

rrinker

One critical fault with anything powered from the track power - if you run against an open switch and short out the track - how can you throw the switch to get it lined properly and clear the short? For 'external' decoders like the DS44, you can run a seperate 'track power' bus from a breaker to the decoders - thus the short will trip the breaker pwoering that section of track but the stationary decoder will have track power. With the built-in decoder like the Flea, I don't think this is possible, at least without modifying the turnout/decoder/motor to provide an 'external' track power connection.

                            --Randy

 

 With the Flea you have the option to run a separate power supply if you choose. As a general rule of thumb as I am sure you are aware of nothing is powered off the main buss except the track

 

 

 http://www.cypress-engineering.com/UserManual2.4a.pdf

According to the wiring diagram, the separate power is 10-15 volts DC, which means that it would still have to get the DCC signal from the track. If that is the case, then you still would not be able to throw the switch using DCC if there is a short on the turnout(though you might still be able to throw it using the pushbutton input to the Flea).