Here is an easy question for someone out there, a friend has Atlas electric ho points, the packets say to connect them to the Atlas controller which he does not have, my question is, are these points 16 AC if not what is the required voltage to operate them and can they be operated with a normal DPDT switch and press button?
The HO switch machines are designed for 16-18 V AC. They can used a DPDT switch as long as it is NORMALLY OPEN. If you don’t use a normally open switch, current will always flow to the coil, heating it up and causing the plastic housing to melt.
Paul Graf
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
Might a more standard way of describing this electrically be “Momentary Contact”? To the Original Poster, the important thing is that the power not be left “on” to the switch machine (or point motor). Even a few seconds could burn out the solenoid.
If the press button is a momentary on, i.e. spring loaded to usually be off, then yes you can wire the DPDT in series with the press button and have it work. Of course the press button comes before the DPDT. The DPDT then determines the direction of the throw and the press button allows momentary flow of current.
A spring loaded center off DPDT would work just as well and only requires wiring 1 switch.
Good luck
Paul
Any “Center Off, Momentary Contact” DPDT switch can be used to control an Atlas turnout motor. Alternately, a pair of momentary contact pushbutton switches can be used. A common practice is to locate a momentary contact pushbutton switch in each possible track route on a control panel (or remote location) track plan. The operator looks at the track plan, decides which route to take, then presses each pushbutton switch along that route to align the various turnouts.
A slick alternative I once installed on a layout operated the turnouts by using a “power wand” to trace the desired track route on a control panel track map. A “common” wire was connected between one of the accessory contacts of a power pack and the center screw of each Atlas turnout motor. Machine screws were positioned on each possible route of the control panel track map. Each screw was wired to one of the other two contact screws on the Atlas turnout motor, whichever contact would align the turnout to the desired route. A “power wand” was created by slightly sharpening one end of a short length of steel rod. The blunt end of the rod was attached to a coiled cord which was in turn wired to the other accessory contact of the power pack. A length of heat shrink tubing was used to cover all but the tip of the wand. With everything correctly wired up, you would simply trace the desired route on the track map to align each turnout. The tip of the “power wand” would contact each screw head along the traced route momentarily connecting power to each turnout and aligning each turnout to the desired track route. No expensive switches were required and my kids (4 and 7 years of age at the time) had no problem sending trains exactly where they wanted them to go. Because you would have to deliberately hold the wand against one of the contact screws to maintain a prolonged power connection, there was
Thanks for the info, perhaps he should use a capacitor discharge unit with the points also, this might limit the power to the coils,
Thanks for the replys everyone, it certainly solved this little problem post haste.
regards Tonka train