I am running all DCC and I know turntables can get pretty expensive. If I buy a manual turntable, how do I power the track without the wires twisting on each other?I’ll need to power it to move the locomotives. Thanks alot.
I am only familiar with the Atlas turntable. There is a power ring which switches polarity. Terminals right on the edge of the turntable.
If you use a powered TT, connect a decoder good for 1 amp to the motor.
Rich
I know I can get a tt motor,Where do ya get the decoder and how do ya program for a tt?
Seconding what rich said – most TT’s will have some form of wiper setup to transmit power from the stationary base to the movable bridge. Alternatively, if you’re making your own, you could use a 1/4" stereo TS connector ( like what’s used in “studio” equipment) to handle the power transmission.
looks sorta like this (though this is a TRS connector, with 3 contacts):
if you’re using a DCC decoder to run a TT motor, you can use any stock locomotive decoder (provided it can handle at lest 1 amp). it’s no different than programming it as if it were in a locomotive.
note that you don’t need to run the turntable off of the DCC bus – you can easily hook up the power leads of the TT motor to an old DC controller or something. If you get one of the Walthers built-ups, I think you just need to get a wall-wart transformer that provides proper voltage…
Litchfield Station sells a Digitrax DZ125 decoder for $19.95 that is quite small and handles 1 amp.
The decoder will operate on DC voltage also. I use a couple of these decoders. The decoder comes ready to operate on DC and DCC.
The light outputs can be connected to a light bulb or LED. Use a 1k resistor for the LED and a 470 ohm resistor for 1.5 volt bulb or 22 ohm resistor for 12 volt bulb. The 22 ohm for the 12 volt bulb helps with bulb life.
Rich
The turntable is NOT connected with wires, but usually brushes. Either they rub against a contact ring, or are part of a phono plug/socket assembly.