I have a pair of wires (+/-) that I can momentarily trigger (complete the circuit), and I'd like to use them to trigger a standard turnout. Most of the wiring diagrams I find online involve a SPDT switch that has two positions. Any advice on how to use these two wires to control a basic 2 position turnout? My contol apparatus momentarily completes the circuit.
I have coil switch machines which are momentary contact. I use momentary miniature OFF/ON/OFF push buttons in a pair. Each button controls the current to the switch machine and direction of the turnout.
Hope this helps.
Neal
Thanks Neal. If I just have one pair of wires I can complete the circuit, can I use this to trigger a turn out to toggle between directions? Or do I need to have a second set of wires to accomodate 2 positions on a turnout?
Hello all,
What type of switch machine are you powering: Atlas, PECO, Tortoise?
I use Atlas and PECO switch machines through a set of PECO Capacitor Discharge Units (CDU's). I split the number of turnout machines between the two.
Because these are twin-coil solenoid type switch machines, three wires are needed to move this type of switch machine back and forth.
One wire is a common while the other two are positive.
When a pulse of current hits one pole of the solenoid; through one positive pole, it moves the core in one direction and moves the points of the turnout.
When a pulse of current hits the other pole of the solenoid it move the core in the opposite direction and moves the points of the turnout in the opposite direction.
The path of the direct current is determined by the position of the switch or toggle which corresponds to the direction of movement of the points; straight or diverging.
If constant direct current is applied to these types of switch machines the coil will burnout and the machine will need to be replaced.
A CDU, when triggered, sends out a single pulse- -for each time the switch is pressed- -no matter the direction. This avoids the possibility of sending constant DC current to the machine and damaging the unit.
Because it is a capacitor a higher amperage pulse moves the machines, without the possibility of burning out the coil(s). This is helpful if you are moving more than one switch machine.
On my pike I have several pairs of turnouts that are simultaneously thrown with the push of one controller. When I put two PECO machines in parallel there wasn't enough amperage to move both before I installed the CDU's.
If you are describing an Alternating Current (A/C) power source you will need a way to convert this to Direct Current (D/C) if you are using a twin-coil solenoid machine.
As far as the Tortoise type I do not have any experience with these so hopefully another member of the forums can address them.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
If you have just one output, you will need a circuit in between to toggle back and forth. Check Circuitron's catalog, they have tons of stuff like that.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
You need to check how the turnouts are wired if they are twin-coils. Some modelers use a single common wire and daisy-chain all the center posts of their twin-coils together, while others find it better to run 3 wires from the control panel to each turnout. Electrically they are the same. The wiring just looks different.
Tortoise and other stall-motor machines use only two wires. The points move based on the direction of current flow through the machine, which is determined by the polarity of the signal on the wires.
I use a CD circuit on my twin-coil machines, too. In general, they are not required, but they have a lot of virtues and I'd highly recommend one.
So, the first question is, what kind of switch machines do you have? If it's a big green block 2 inches square and about 3 inches tall, it's a Tortoise. Otherwise, it's probably a twin-coil.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.