Circuitron Smail Auto-Align feature?

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi all! I am new to the forum and looking for help as I am struggling to find the mythical “AN-6200-03” notes from Circuitron regarding how to configure a SMAIL to Auto Align a turnout. This is an interesting feature that I’d like to explore and see if I can incorporate into my layout. I have sent numerous emails to Circuitron tech support and unfortunately I have received no response. I have also searched the web and cannot find anything on this topic. Anyone have any insight on this?

Thank you in advance for any guidance,

Marc
P.S. I already own 36 SMAILS and at this time I’m not interested in alternative solutions to the switch machine itself.

2

I have no idea Circuitron originally did it, but I would first like some clarification: I presume that by auto-align you mean the turnout automatically changing direction to prevent derailments, and I also presume that you are using a two-rail system. Is this correct?

3

Yes, to clarify I have copied the verbiage directly from the SMAIL user guide: "If you would like to utilize the SMAIL’s™ AUTO-ALIGN™ feature to provide non-derailing turnout
action without any external detection circuitry. The AUTO-ALIGN™ feature can be implemented with DCC, DC or AC track power (with some restrictions and when used with a separate power source) . Download Application Note AN-6200-01 for details on AUTO-ALIGN™ "

And yes, I’m using a two rail system.

4

Here is the text of the user guide:

http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/ins/800-6200ins.pdf

5

Thank you, I appreciate your response.

I have 36 of these as this is the document that references AN-6200-01 for details on AUTO-ALIGN™.

6

Certain SMAIL switch machines are not capable of the auto-align feature since changes were made to the internal boards. Circuitron uses NCE Switch-IT technology in the SMAIL and the boards come from NCE. The older ones may work with auto-align. I only know this because I received a reply from Circuitron about questions I had on this feature.

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7

Part of the problem appears to be that Circuitron has not updated the list of PDF application notes on their site:

I only see AN references up to 6000 (referencing Tortoise machines) with no listing for 6200s (for which we know there are at least 5). That leaves us dependent on requests to Circuitron ‘support’ to provide the ANs via e-mail – which he says he has tried more than once with no answer.

I thought there might be a YouTube or similar video describing the procedure, but have not found one. Note to Firecrown: this seems to be precisely something for MR to research and then publish, complete with a synopsis of what is in the Circuitron application note…

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8

I think this might be what you are searching for:

9

Thanks, that clears that up.

10

That is for an earlier version of the device (see the reference to AN-5615).

It may be possible that the internal switches in the ‘older’ switch motors work the same as those in the 6200 series, and reading the corresponding Application Notes (particularly as provided for the 6000 series) might get him to enough information to figure out an approach.

11

Not sure what the differences are between the Smail versions. But it appears to me that actual work is done by the TC 3 and 4 devices.

12

If that’s so, and I see little reason why it wouldn’t be so, then the Circuitron AN-6000-10 which explicitly says it covers ‘non-derailing’ operation under DCC ought to be ‘the nuts’ for him.

Unfortunately when I select this from their support page (see above) I get a note that the file is unavailable. The choices before and after it in the list download correctly, so this is not a site failure. It does indicate that someone… perhaps a few someones here… should e-mail Circuitron with the specific request that this AN be restored (and, of course, upgraded to AN-6200-02 or whatever the cited note in his instructions was given as)…

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