This concerns turnouts. I am using the Kato Unitrack. From what I understand, all I need to do is get the appropriate decoder, wire it up, program it, and I’m done. There are no wires to connect to the controller set, because the signals are sent through the track. Am I correct on this? Thankya.
Hey Redneck
Yes, the signals are sent through the track. Just like the signals are sent through the track to the locomotive decoders.
“Stationary Decoders” are used for controlling turnout motors, and other animated things on your layout. Which stationary decoder you get depends on the turnout motor you are using. Some work better than others, for each decoder application.
I’m in the middle of converting my small layout from hand operated turnouts to DCC powered. I’m using Tortoise machines with my Atlas Customline Turnouts, so I use NCE Switch-It decoders. Some people here say that the Atlas turnouts are of poor quality. So far, they have worked perfectly for me. I hope I don’t get problems from them soon.
I’m wiring LED’s into the circuit to show turnout position on trackside dwarf signals. All this stuff is new to me. Its slow going as I don’t really have much time for this.
http://www.tonystrains.com/productcompare/sta_dec_comparison_recommend.htm
Jim
( a Redneck stuck in New Jersey)
Rob,
I assume you also have a switching motor (e.g. a Tortoise machine) to switch your turnout?
Tom
I’m using all Kato stuff. I know it might look hokey to some, but I’ve been doing a lot of reading, and it seems Kato did their homework when it comes to DCC. As thick as the Kato turnouts are, I am assuming they have their own motors. I don’t really care if they’re slow or not, I just want them to work. Kato track is a little more costly than some others, but I like it. I got the first bit yeaterday, in fact. I can see where some might think it looks more like toy track, but that’s ok. It looks like quality track that won’t give much trouble, I won’t have to solder together, and I won’t have to ballast. I’m lazy. The closer it comes RTR, the better I like it. I do like to build kits, though. The way I look at it, why should my hobby be hard when I can make it easy?
Rob,
I just learned something. I didn’t realize that the Kato Unitrack turnouts had hidden switches in the them. Duh? Sorry about the question earlier.
Tom
i’m sure that with a little paint on the rails , a small amount of ballast (to make the molded on ballast look a little less perfect) and some oily , greasy spots between the rails , you’d have pretty nice looking track that wouldn’t have that ‘toy train’ look
Don’t feel bad.
Even after I wrote that, I wasn’t sure they did until I looked. LOL!
Rob, I hope you don’t for one second feel awkward about wanting an easy time of building your hobby. If you look over your left shoulder, I am right there with you,Bud. [^]
My EZ-Track snap switches work just fine (for now) and they were a breeze to install. Later, I may add some ‘real’ switches that other modelers would approve of, but for now, it’s what I have.