I am in the process of wiring my layout, which has three criss-crosses. To make things a little less hazordous, I decided to use snap relays to control the power going to the track in those sections. My problem is that I have to manually move the switch on the relay because the momentary contact switch at my command center doesn’t seem to be sending enough power to the relay to move the switch itself. The only thing I can figure is that it may have something to do with being mounted upside down under the layout. Has anyone else had any problems like this with the snap relays?
How many amps is your power supply? How much other stuff are you running off of it? Sounds like you might need more amps. Someone told me those Atlas switch machines and relays can draw 2-3 amps when thrown. (momentarily)
I have to agree with Loathar; I have had the sane experience. The power pack that I was using to power remote turnouts with the Atlas snap switch machines (an old train set power pack) just could not cut it. When I went to a little bigger power pack they worked just fine.
Unless you have a BIG power supply with no other loads on it, your best bet would be to go to a Capacitor Discharge switch and relay throwing circuit. A quick search of the Forums will yield several threads, with links to circuit diagrams and even commercial suppliers.
I use double-coil switch machines (not Atlas - I need additional contacts,) but I have blessed myself with a 16VAC 5 amp dedicated power supply, so I have no need for CD. OTOH, the AC output from a wimpy train set power pack will barely light a few structures. It most emphatically does NOT have the power to operate twin coil juice hogs.
Amen to the suggestion of going for a CD-unit. They are available cheaply or you can build your own from junk-box parts. You can feed it AC from a miniscule transformer or power pack; (the recovery-time will be longer with a tiny one) or even a small appliance battery charger that puts out 12-18v AC. I switch Atlas Snap Relays & (Atlas switch machines or Peco PL-10 coils) both singly or in pairs, and RIX 2-coil machines singly with my homebrew unit. I have no problems, except if someone manually moves 1 Atlas unit and not its twin. That results in a track short until the twin is also flipped. That’s a tough problem to live with!