I have a NCE PH PRO. I while ago i posted a qustion on what some of you guys use to operate your twin coil peco switches. The most cheapest way was the Lenz 150. I want two know what else i need to buy to hook this up to my NCE unit and make it work. I,m tring to figure out the total cost of everything I need and A list so i can order it.
Also I wanted to know how hard it is to prgram it to work as well?
I’m using (4) of the Lenz LS150 turnout decoders with Atlas switch machines. The only additional item needed is an AC power supply (I think that they recommend a max. of 16V). I’m using my old Atlas Generator that came with my Atlas DCC system.
From each LS150, two wires go to the track bus, 2 wires to the AC transformer and 3 wires to each of the (6) switch machines. You can connect all of the LS150’s to the same transformer. Lots’ of wiring but they work well.
Setting the addresses for the switches is very easy. The manual is easy to follow.
Jerry
You have a very nice system, and you want the cheapest way to run switches? Think about that for a minute.
I’m not quite ready to start The Curse of the Black Poll yet, but I’d be curious to know how many people use DCC to control turnouts. I think the thing that settled me on it was reading the manual which describes the keystrokes (Lenz-100 throttle) necessary to select and throw one turnout.
When I’m running my small layout and squeezing in a trolley car run down a short section of main between passes of a short freight doing a loop-de-loop, I might throw a half-dozen turnouts over a span of 10 seconds, in addition to slowing down, stopping or speeding up one or both of the trains. I couldn’t possibly do that with the DCC throttle alone. Instead, I’ll stick to control panels and toggle switches.
What do other people think? Do you run your turnouts on DCC? Can you throw them from a control panel, too? Which do you prefer when you’re actually running the trains?
I plan on using both. When operating alone, it’s nice to have local buttons to oeprate things as you walk along with the train. For a more formal operating session, at least mainline turnouts should be under dispatcher control unless permission is granted tot he local crew to operate them locally.
Even if I get to the point where i have a nice layout for a half dozen or so operators - I can not imagine simply letting it all sit between sessions - I will definitely want to run trains even when it’s not operating night. I’ve seen articles by well-known operators who say the only time they touch the railroad between sessions is to restage in preparation for the next session. Phooey on that!
–Randy
Oh, you don’t want to know…[:D]
Yes
Do you mean a fascia-mounted (or similar) hard panel, or a control panel on a computer screen? For me, yes to the computer panel and in the works for the hard panels.
I prefer the dispatcher to do his job so I don’t have to. When the dispatcher gives me local control, the throttle is fine. But I plan on adding local panels with track diagrams anyway, so I’ll have all the bases covered.
Steve
To add to the poll yes I do use dcc for turnouts . I use ds64’s each one controls 4 tortoise switches. I can setup routes so as many turnouts as I’d like will change all at once. With my digitrax super chief its just a matter of selecting switch then the # of the switch and a simple open or close command takes seconds.[:)]
Would it not be better to stop at the turnout change the direction of the turnout then proceed?[:I]
Hmmm, never really put any thought to doing it another way before. See, modular standards being what they are, and since most of my railroad is modular, I just went with the standard local panels. I can’t see a way of making a series of modules capable of allowing a centralized panel or even a PC to control routing. Especially considering that they almost never get deployed in the same order twice! Ugh, just the thought of all the additional wiring!
But, for a “permanent” layout, the idea is intriguing!
Just think, with block detection, transponding, automated switching, and throttle control, a PC could run several trains at once. I’d be just a railfan again![;)]
Well said.
CHEAPE$T = Hand throws.
AUTOMATIC = Peco Switch machines + Independent P.S. + Panel mounted momentary toggles/ push buttons.
DCC control adds DCC activation receiver modules to the mix and dispenses with the Panel.
What I hear from Peco users is their turnout has a strong tension spring, and Peco twin coil Switch machine use 3 amps peak to drive them. Any application using two machines simultaneusly - crossover - 3 way - etc. -sould have a 5 amp supply, minimum.
Many DCC’ers enjoy the electrical wire minimizing DCC offers. Wiring DCC modules to Peco Switch machines - and a Dedicated power supply - certainly will earn one their ‘stripes’ as opposed to going ‘cheap’.
Don take a look down at probably the last post of this thread http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68884 I’m using pecos I removed the springs and I’m running 39 tortoise switches off a dc power supply without a problem [:)]
- Lynn, you removed the spring. (No tension).
- You are using Motor driven switch machines. (Tortoise: , not Peco Twin coils…
The question raised “… what some of you guys use to operate your twin coil peco switches” - quote
yike my mistake [:I]
To add to the poll … like Wickman, i also use DCC to throw turnouts. I do it from the throttles just as he does with the same key strokes, only I’m using a NCE PH Pro system and componets.
To each his own.
Greg
I run my Peco twin-coils with a 45-year-old power pack driving a capacitive discharge circuit. I heartily recommend a CD circuit for anyone using Peco twin-coils. I don’t have any routing circuits, so I throw one turnout at a time, by hand with SPDT toggles. I do have to wait a couple of seconds between throws for the capacitor to recharge.
I run Atlas twin-coils off the same circuit, but they are far less power-hungry.
I throw some turnouts with my Lenz throttle but also use the ZugDCC computer program (for Lenz only) which allows me to create a turnout map (in effect a control panel) from which I can throw individual turnouts or can set routes to throw any number of turnouts with 2 mouse clicks.
Jerry
I have two Lenz LS150’s on my coffee table layout. There was not enough room to add a control panel, so I had to use my NCE PowerCab to throw turnouts, but it is very easy to do. You can also set up the Lenz LS150 with a fascia mounted control panel if you want. The wiring instructions for doing that is in the manual. The only additional item you need is an AC power pack. The recommend one with no more than 45 Volt Amps, so I got a Digitrax PS315 to power both of mine. One thing that I have noticed with mine, is that one of my switches (Atlas twin coil n-scale) takes almost 3 amps to throw. This will sometimes trip the internal circuitry of the Lenz LS150, and it will not throw that switch in that direction again, until I unplug the AC power pack and then replug it in.