Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

DCC Turnout controller for Capacitor style

1053 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2024
  • 1 posts
DCC Turnout controller for Capacitor style
Posted by Duke_of_CHeS on Thursday, April 11, 2024 6:53 PM

Hello all,

I was looking for a way to control my capacitor turnouts through dcc. In my research I found two controllers that stood out. 1st the Atlas 344 Master Turnout Control Unit which was on the cheaper side and promised what I wanted. 2nd the YaMoRC YD8008 CDU Solenoid which is newer and says a bunch of stuff that I don't understand. I am hoping that someone on here has either used one of these controllers or can guide me on the right path for a controller for my turnouts.

Links

Atlas:https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-223-atlas-master-turnout-control-unit.aspx

YaMoRC:http://yamorc.de/upcp_product/yd8008/

Tags: switch , turnout
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, April 12, 2024 4:43 PM

I think we need to synch up our descriptions first.  Is a "capacitor turnout" a twin-coil machine with a Capacitive Discharge Unit in the circuit to provide more power?  And, by "control with DCC" do you mean to control the turnouts with your DCC throttle?

 I power all of my twin-coil machines through a single CDU circuit, but I use control panel toggles for all of them.  I generally use toggles for my Tortoise stall-motor machines as well.  I do have a few stall-motor machines which I control through my DCC throttle using stationary decoders.  Personally, I don’t care for that method and would probably use toggles for those if I were to do it again.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, April 15, 2024 1:35 PM

Hello All,

Welcome to the forums.

Your first few posts will be reviewed by the moderators so there will be a delay in seeing them.

MisterBeasley
I think we need to synch up our descriptions first.
Is a "capacitor turnout" a twin-coil machine with a Capacitive Discharge Unit in the circuit to provide more power?
And, by "control with DCC" do you mean to control the turnouts with your DCC throttle?

For my Atlas and PECO twin coil solenoid switch machines, I use two (2) PECO PL-35 Capacitive Discharge Units (CDUs).

Each CDU powers half of the twenty-two (22) turnouts on my pike.

Many have commented that one would suffice but I have several situations where two (2) PECO PL-11 Side Mounted Turnout Motors are both controlled by a single momentary switch.

The extra "oomph" is needed to overcome the spring tension of the PECO turnouts. Splitting the load between two (2) CDUs made sense.

After looking at the two DCC Turnout Controllers you listed, I have some questions: 

What DCC system are you using?

How many turnout motors do you want to control?

For both units, you will need a power source "wall wart".

The YaMoRC has a built-in CDU while the Atlas unit does not.

Atlas touts that you can power two (2) switch machines from one output. I suspect you could do the same with the YaMoRC but it does not specify.

If this were my decision I would choose the YaMoRC because it has 8 outputs and a built-in CDU.

Those features are worth the extra cost.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    May 2024
  • 1 posts
Posted by ednasharp on Friday, May 3, 2024 3:48 AM

Agree, a "capacitor turnout" refers to a twin-coil machine with a Capacitive Discharge Unit (CDU) included in the circuit. But, have you encountered any challenges or limitations when using toggles for controlling the twin-coil machines with CDU circuits?

.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!