I have only been apart of this forum for about three weeks and I really don’t want to be a bother but I keep coming up with questions that I could use advice on. Let me begin by saying that right now I have a 20x12 foot layout in my garage. I use 1 z4000 transformer with remotes(no dcs) and 1 lionel kw transfromer. I also have numerous auxillery controls that I put in place for switching before I got the remotes. After Christmas I am tearing down the layout. I was going to build a large room to move the trains into but a new baby put the end to that idea so I am going to finally redo the garage into a suitable trainroom and build a 20x12 two level layout. I enjoy operation so there will be yards and many opertunities for switching. The track plan is going to be an extension of what I already have since I have a good time running what I got now. I am going to replace the Kw with another z4000 with remotes to eliminate the need for multiple panels.
Now this is the question I have. I use a block system on the layout. Coming from the smaller scales I used atlas selector switches for the block control but on the new layout I am going to use something else. I am wondering if any of you have heard of a switch that would have 5 positions…4 on and an off so I can select which cab will control each block and have an off position to kill the power totally. a quadrople pole switch I guess is what I need. Once again, any suggestions out there?
Rotary switches? I have to look in the “Wiring Your Lionel Layout” vol 2 for some more specifics. Each switch represents one of your blocks. The rotation sets the power supply for that given block. This way you cannot tie more than one power supply to a given block.
The most common way to do this is with a rotary switch. For what you cite, you would need a 1P5T switch, with the fifth position being not wired as an “off”. Some rotary switches come with an “off” built in, in which case you only need the 4 positions.
When spec’ing the switch, make sure you get a “non-shorting” type. The “shorting” version bridges 2 positions momentarily while the switch is being thrown between the positions. This would connect 2 cabs momentarily to the same block - something we do not want in trains.
As long as you are using a common return scheme (outer rails connected throughout), with the center rail being broken at each block boundary, you only need a single pole. An extra pole could come in handy for other purposes and circuits (like signals or indicator lights), so if the price differential is small, spring for the extra pole, even if you don’t need it at present.
Where would I get these, Radio Shack? And about how much do they cost each…I am loooking at need ing between 25 and 30 of them and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for them. I could use the double pole though for my signal system and whatnot.
I have roughly 35 on my layout now but am DOWNSIZING to 25-30. My first thought was to use 2 dpdt switches to select the cab and then spst switches for the blocks in most areas except for the main panel.
I don’t think you will find these at Radio Shack. You will have to find a specialty electronics/electrical supplier or mail order. You can order these in shorting/non shorting configurations, single pole/double pole, and number of positions. High current multi pole’s will not be cheap, maybe $5-$15 each.
I suggest using a pair of toggle switches for each block. You can do what you want with an SPDT and a DPDT, with either or both of them being off in the center. The circuit is simple:
I would not use the Atlas slide switchs commonly used for HO.I tried them and they do not last long as they can’t seem to handle the volts/amps. They worked for awhile but one by one they failed.They have a new HD switch but it retails for$19.95 each. the suggestions above should do the job.