On my current small HO layout that uses predominantly Atlas track , turnouts & controls - to operate a Switch Machine using the Atlas Switch Control Box I need to slide the push button sideways & depress it momentarily, to activate the switch.
On my bigger layout currently in the planning phase, ideally I would like to be able to ‘flick a switch’ one way & have say 4 sets of points concurrently take positions to give mainline running configuration ‘A’, & then be able to ‘flick the switch’ the other way to give a different configuration, ‘B’.
So the issue is concurrent/coordinated switching, theoretically using the Atlas equipment.
I’m not sure it can do it.
I think I could cobble together something mechanical that could move 4 push buttons sideways in concert, but its the concurrent ‘momentary depressing’ the push buttons that presents a problem.
Which leads to the query of whether there is a different type of switch, (not the Atlas Switch Control Box), that can be used to activate the Atlas turnout switch, without having to be depressed momentarily??
What you need is a diode matrix switching scheme. I have never used one, but have seen them described in several of the older modeling books. A quick Google search using the simple term, diode matrix, turned up this page:
My last layout (1993-2008) was HO with all Atlas code 100 components. I used a separate powerpack to power accessories, and had 5 crossover (two turnouts each) that were all wired into one “switch” controller. They ALL worked flawlessly for the duration of the layout.
My new layout is similar, and currently under construction. This one has 4 crossovers that will be wired the same way, and I am sure they will be fine. However, I would like to wire my staging turnouts so that a “flick of the switch” will line up the turnouts for each of the 6 staging tracks. This CAN be done with straight wiring, but there are other - probably easier - ways to do it.
If you look in the Atlas track book, it will lay out the wiring for pretty much whatever situation you can have.
If you’re up for a little do it yourself project, pick up Andy Sperandeos’ book, “Easy Model Railroad Wiring”, published by our hosts, Kalmbach. It’s got info on the above mentioned diode matrix, plus a system called “probe and stud” control for turnouts. When you use this system you touch studs connected to the wiring of the turnouts with a probe that’s “hot” and this switches the points of the turnouts. Want this route? Touch, touch touch, all the turnouts are lined. It’s pretty simple to understand and wire so it won’t be a big stretch from using all Atlas components.
Diode switching matrices are nice for setting up complete paths, but is that your intent?
I have a hunch that you are looking at a double crossover - two parallel tracks with 4 turnouts - and you want to set them up to all throw at once. Either all the turnouts are set for the main lines, or all are set to cross over. Is that what you want?
If so, you can actually do it with a single control. Simply wire them all together. Now, that’s the theory. If you have enough power to drive them, it will work. For a while.
The first problem is those Atlas slide switches. They are, electrically, single-pole, double-throw momentary contact toggles. They are, colloquially, pieces of dung. (Personal opinion.) I’ve had enough of these fail on me that I don’t use them any more. Unfortunately, when they fail, they often take out a switch machine with them. In your case, 4 switch machines. I would strongly suggest using simple SPDT momentary contact toggles from an electronics place.
The other problem is power. Most train power packs have a set of accessory terminals, which we use to drive turnouts. They will usually drive a single Atlas turnout, but driving 4 at once is asking a lot. Instead, a capacitive discharge circuit is recommended. You can buy one of these, such as the Snapper, or you can build your own with a few parts fro Radio $hack for about $5.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/sw_ctl.htm go to turnout control and about half way down there is a diode matrix that should work for you using 2 power packs for the push you’ll need for the use of 2 or more switch machines, hope this helps,Jim.