got to bother you with another simple tortois question, I actually got a few now and noticed, or maybe someone out there told me first, that the aux contacts can handle 1amp max, i plan on using the aux contacts to route power to the frogs etc, seems a common approac and i dont want to use relays yuk!
i also plan on using DCC with sound,
Question is, assuming all is working well, ie. no shorts, how much current does an average loco with sound pull? i am assuming since you only have one loco on the turnout/frog at a time weather or not in a consit doesn’t really matter…
am i ok ??
thanks again for the help, bobt
Locomotive current draw varies. The best way to check would be to wire an ammeter into a circuit and test ALL of your locos. If the current draw is below 1 amp, you’re ok. Don’t forget, that the current draw goes up depending on how many cars you’re pulling.
The contacts are only rated to SWITCH 1 amp. They can carry much more. Plus there can never be more than one loco on a switch frog at a time. Somewhere on the net is a quite from the owner of Circuitron with regard to this - basically, don’t worry about it. You could parallel the two sets of contacts if you don’t need any kind of feedback indication. If you want panel indicators for switch position, just put LEDs in series with the motor drive, no resistor required. Less wiring than running another set of wires back from the contacts on the Tortoise.
–Randy
Bob: you should be OK as long as the switched section is just the frog, not a long passing siding or something beyond.