Atlas double pole, double throw (DPDT) switches

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

These are the under table switch motors my Hobby Store sells and they are the more expensive switch machines Atlas makes.

But what is the double pole, double throw feature?

Does it do anything special?

Is it for adding asignal at the switch?

I’m confused.
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Thanks,
Doug

2

You may want to offer a little more info about what you are asking… If you mean a turnout motor or machine with DPDT contacts, yes, they can be used for signals, power routing of the frogs, power routing of the tracks, panel lights, or just about anything else you want to connect to them…

Jeff

3

Yup.

That’s what I was referring to, a turnout motor or machine with DPDT contacts

Do they work well?

Any advice on installing them?

Thanks,
Doug

4

Atlas makes two kinds of switch machines now…one with a built -in Atlas relay or you can go the old route by using an atlas UTTSM along with the Atlas Relay to drive the above mentioned…you cannot use a DPDT switch to operate any atlas turnout or relay because Atlas equipment are coil type devices…you’ll have to use a DPDT switch that provides momentary power to operate the coil then shuts the power off after the turnout is thrown…if you are using Atlas your best bet is to use the Atlas switch machine device specifically built for the Atlas turnout machines…if you keep constant power on an atlas coil (by using a DPDT switch to operate the turnout machine) it will burn up the coil… the DPDT control switches work best with devices like the Tortoise Machine which has a motor drive instead of a coil and won’t burn up with power on it constantly…if you send me your e-mail address I can send you a bunch of basic wiring circuits i’ve drawn in microsoft word in an attachment that will show you how to wire the atlas equipment so you won’t burn it up…the extra contacts on the Atlas are for driving accessories or powering a frog in which you’ll need a different power source other than the track power (unless it’s the frog you’re going to power which will need the track power)…chuck

5

Thanks for the help CW!

I’ll e-mail you immediately.

Best regards,

Doug