Atlas conrol panel?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

When I saw all those nice contol panels in the recent threads it got me thinking of my future control panel. My problem is I only have atlas under-table switch machines and switch contol boxes. In other threads I see that most people have used simple toggle switches to control their switch machines, and this won’t work with the Atlas switch machines, right?

So I was wondering if anyone has used the Atlas control boxes for their control panel and if so, how did you do it? Is there a way to control the switch machines using toggle switches?

Thanks in advance for any help.

2

There are momentary toggle switches. My surplus store has them on occassion. I have never tried this because I don’t like the turnout controlers.

3

Try Radio Shack. That’s where I get all my switches.

4

Thanks for the tips, the only problem now is what to do with my switch control boxes!

5

We all have a few left overs and a "I wish I hadn’t bought that " stack. You could try to sell them on ebay as collectors items for $25.00 a pop.

6

I’m glad I bought them… but I just don’t need them anymore.
You’re right, I could make a killing on ebay. After all, I detailed and weathered them myself [:D][:D]

7

You can wire up simple SPDT (that’s Single-Pole, Double-Throw) momentary contact toggles to run Atlas switch machines. An Atlas control is just that, but it also has a “pass-through” connector for the common wire, which actually does not go through the control at all.

I was at my LHS a while back and some guy actually came in and bought some Atlas turnout controls. I guess he likes them. Personally, I’ve found them unreliable, and I would rather have a “schematic” control panel with a layout diagram than a row of buttons.

8

The Radio Shacks in my area are all going under. I don’t know if it is a regional thing or for the whole chain. I will miss them, handy place to pick up those odd and end electrical parts. There are many other outlets for supplies, but hate to see them go.
Bob K.

9

If you followed AggroJones directions, you might even get $40 a pop.
Bob K.

10

Radio Shack oversaturated the market and is closing some stores. Where I live we have 3 within a 4 mile radius. They are closing one of them. I spoke to the manager and she told me the story. As for switches, if you are buying in any type of quantity, you can go broke at Radio Shack prices. For volume go to Digikey.

http://www.digikey.com/

I will warn you that their catalog can be a little overwhelming due to its size.

11

The only reason I have them is because they came with the turnouts I bought. I would like a schematic panel but it would be difficult to do using the Atlas turnout controls. Are the momentary toggles very expensive?

Thanks in advance

12

Radio Shack is cutting many stores, but they’re not shutting down the whole chain. Yes, I’d like them to survive, but I’m not going to “support” them the way I do my LHS. I can get both trains and electronics cheaper online. I kind of feel guilty when I buy trains on the Internet, but I feel smart when I buy toggle switches.

It’s harder to find what I want at Radio Shack. The salespeople are generally clueless. The last time I was there, I waited patiently while both cashiers tried to figure out the cash register. Finally, I took a dollar and some pennies out of my pocket, told the cashier “Exact change,” left the money on the counter and walked out.

13

1 .Atlas switches are PANEL MOUNTED and can be connected together for SIMPLICITY.
2… Atlas turnout controls are also MOMENTARY.

TOGGLE switches require a hole to mount in, and must provide MOMENTARY contacting:
A 'Center off Momentary On-Off-On is probably the best choice.

  1. Advantages of a ‘Toggle’ - space and looks ‘neater’, wheras Advantages of the ‘Atlas’ - simplicity and cost.

Atlas uses the ‘Twin Coil’ type machine - $10 or less which require momentary actuation.
‘Stall Motor’ machines are $20 or less - but can use conventional SPDT toggles…