Wiring a crossover with tam valley servos

[RR_Mel]

I missed using the servo like a Tortoise and agree with Randy that is a NO NO!!!

 

When a servo is in stall mode it will draw high current, can easily draw over 80ma.  The SG90 servo gets hot at 40ma and in less than 5 minutes will be hot enough to ding the servo housing. 

 

I highly recommend the Tam Valley No-Buzz In-Line Servo Quieter, that can make or break using a servo to control turnouts.  It will stop the high current to the servo when stalled.

 

The servo stall current was the hardest part of me using servos for my turnouts.  I wanted to have the servo keep pressure on the points against the outside rails and doing so the current was to high and the servos got supper hot at 40ma.  Adjusting the servo driver to be at a low idle current prevented the servo from applying pressure against the point rails.  The No-Buzz In-Line Servo Quieter, lets the servo apply pressure then drops the servo preventing the high current until the servo drive is changed.

 

Using servos for turnout control is much cheaper than a Tortoise.  I paid $1.50 for the servo, about $1 for miscellaneous parts and $4.50 for the Tam Valley No-Buzz.  A single $10 Arduino MEGA will control over 20 turnouts.  Another feature of Arduino control is the speed of point travel, it can be adjusted from super slow to instant.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[gmpullman]

rrinker

Servos don't change direction based on polarity like a Tortoise.

Didn't intend to steer the OP wrong. He was asking for non-DCC control and that's where I thought the DY-5001 would drive the servos.

I stand corrected   Ed

[rrinker]

gmpullman

Just the two servos as far as I can see.

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/servosaccessories.html

Plus a double pole double throw toggle switch to act as a reversing switch to provide reversing DC power to drive the servos. Maybe their DY-5001 DPDT relay would make wiring the servos easier? 

If you are powering the frog you would get the servo model with the add-on snap-switch.

Good Luck, Ed

 

NO NO NO

Servos don't change direction based on polarity like a Tortoise. Nor do they like to be stalled like a Tortoise. Understandable to get this wrong, since MR published an article a couple of years ago saying to do exactly this, although it required modification of the servos. But they get very hot if stalled, and I can;t imagine them lasting long used as a stall motor, they aren't meant for that.

 Most of the Tam Valley controllers will drive 2 servos - so a Singlet plus a second servo would work for a crossover. If there are more than one crossover to control, the Octopus may be the controller, it can control up to 8 servos, serveral can be doubled up but not all 8, for crossovers. 

                                    --Randy

 

[RR_Mel]

The SG90 servos are powered by 4 to 6 volts or nominal 5 volts.  They can be driven with many controllers available, I prefer using an Arduino but I also like the Tam Valley controllers.

 

I also use the SG9 servos and the Micro 7G servos for automation.  For their cost the Tam Valley looks pretty good and simple to install.

 

 

 

I’m using the 7G servos for door automation.  At less than $1 off eBay they go a long way.  They are small enough to fit in the overhead above my roundhouse doors for opening and closing the doors.

 

It’s rather easy to automate figures with the servos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

IDRick

I want an easy functional crossover that is pretty much plug and play plus at a lower cost than a tortoise setup.

Easy, plug and play, and low cost doesn't really happen.

I don't think you should apologize.  The Electrical Cognescenti know how to build this with $10 of parts from Ebay.  You just need to get one of them to spell it out.    I'll be standing by ready to take notes.

edit for spelin

[IDRick]

CNR378

 

 

IDRick

 

 

CNR378

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/support/crossovers.html

 

 

Thanks for the link. How are the servos powered?

 

 

 

8-24V DC

 

 

Sorry, I'm a complete newbie to this system of turnout control.  I should have gone directly to tam valley, explained I'm a complete novice relative to their system, and asked their advice.  I don't know where and how the Tam Valley products connect to the power supply.  My question was way too basic to ask on this forum...  Apologies

[CNR378]

IDRick

 

 

CNR378

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/support/crossovers.html

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the link. How are the servos powered?

 

 

8-24V DC

[RR_Mel]

I use the Tower SG90 servos and they run on 5 volts, they can draw up to 100ma depending on the servo load.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[IDRick]

CNR378

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/support/crossovers.html

 

 

Thanks for the link. How are the servos powered?

[IDRick]

Thanks Ed!  I very new to this...

Seems to me that I would need the following (but clearly could be wrong):

    2 Singlet servos,

    1 fascia controller (FCB020), 

    1 recessed fascia mount MFC3D1

    1 y-cord to operate both turnouts with a depressing the controller  SRX003

I don't see how they are powered?  Can you tell me?  Thanks!

Based on my understanding, I'm looking at $21 per crossover.

[CNR378]

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/support/crossovers.html

[gmpullman]

Just the two servos as far as I can see.

https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/servosaccessories.html

Plus a double pole double throw toggle switch to act as a reversing switch to provide reversing DC power to drive the servos. Maybe their DY-5001 DPDT relay would make wiring the servos easier? 

If you are powering the frog you would get the servo model with the add-on snap-switch.

Good Luck, Ed

[IDRick]

I'm builing a test switching layout that will eventually be a part of a larger layout.  I want to use caboose hobbies switch machines for single turnouts and Tam valley servors for crossovers.  I want an easy functional crossover that is pretty much plug and play plus at a lower cost than a tortoise setup.  What do I need to order from Tam Valley?  I will not be controlling turnouts with DCC.  Thanks!