I dont like the way the current control scheme works with the DCC version of the turntable. From my point of view there was nothing wrong with the old control mechanism (it works just fine on my clubs modular layout). I found this using the google: https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-projects/dcc-ing-a-walthers-turntable
I was wondering if anyone had tried this with an NCE DCC system and had a recommendation for method of conversion (the link provided or otherwise)?
Edit/note: The link describes converting the old TT to DCC. My intention is to install a motor decoder or some other scheme of controlling the bridge movement (LCC or arduino maybe?).
By all accounts, the new one and the old one are the same, the difference is that the new one adds the additional stationary decoder electronics to let you program addresses to each stop point. So anything you could do to the old one, should be able to be done to the new one.
I've not been a fan of either the old one or the new one, but part of that is being soured on the reliability by the fact that neither the turntable (old style one) and the transfer table on the club layout have ever worked properly. Part of that is because it is a portable modular layout and it is constantly being moved around and not always stored in a nice clean basement, so perhaps one in a better environment would be more reliable. The method of activating the new one via DCC is just bizzare and not easy. My turntable plans are to get a simple motor drive one (not the old Walthers/Heljan kit though) and have a simple toggle switch control with two speeds, and locate it near the front of the layout so it is easy to line up tracks visually. No indexing complications, no need to swap loco addresses to select the table to turn the loco I just drove out of the roundhouse. A fixed throttle ont he fascia always set to the turntable address would work, but that seems way more complicated (and a waste of a throttle) than a simple DC power with a toggle switch, which more closely emulates the actual controls.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
DigitalGriffinNot to hijack the thread but... Randy have toy tried adding additional weights and wipers to the transfer table? My was horrible out of the box but lead weights hidden in equipment boxes and new wipets helped immensly. I have around a 99 hit rate with 18 stalls.
Taking back my thread. Specifically what Im looking for is manually controlling my motor driven turntables. I do not want the DCC programmed stop address. Simply put what I want is either a push button or switch to start and stop the TT bridge. Is this possible with the Walthers DCC TTs?
I thought the DCC ones still had a control box like the original non-DCC one and you can still use it to position the table, you aren't REQUIRED to use DCC to run it.
2 Red buttons?
BMMECNYC I dont like the way the current control scheme works with the DCC version of the turntable. From my point of view there was nothing wrong with the old control mechanism (it works just fine on my clubs modular layout). I found this using the google: https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/dcc-projects/dcc-ing-a-walthers-turntable I was wondering if anyone had tried this with an NCE DCC system and had a recommendation for method of conversion (the link provided or otherwise)? Edit/note: The link describes converting the old TT to DCC. My intention is to install a motor decoder or some other scheme of controlling the bridge movement (LCC or arduino maybe?).
Yes you can use DCC. A dc motor will respond to the DCC signal from the decoder like any motor in a loco. Just adjust the CV's to suit you.
I have used a NCE system to power different loco motors on my decoder tester.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
On the old one you had two buttons, one for each direction.