EZ Track question and comments

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello everyone:

Question using EZ track (please stop laughting) [(-D] for my layout which is a squared C benckwork 4x4 2x4 4x4 … The turnouts have the wiring system in place but not sure if I want to strip and wire and use the control box or cut the wiring and go manual … I guess the debate is wire or manual … will be looking for your comments

thanks

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Turnout sites, relative to the controller (person, not pushbutton:)

  1. Within easy arm’s reach of anyone who needs to use it.

  2. 'Way back on the far side of town, but leads to an industrial spur.

  3. One in a series that need to be thrown cascade fashion to set up a route or select a yard track.

  4. One that needs to be controlled from two locations by two controllers.

So, what’s the most operator-friendly, least complicated way for each, given that the EZ-Track switch machines are built in? IMHO:

  1. Manual. May be powered if there is delicate scenery adjacent to the machine.

  2. Wire it, with the controls (buttons or whatever) located where the engineer would normally be standing when working that industry.

  3. Wire through a diode matrix. One button lines up all the points.

  4. Wire both controls to the same switch machine. They can be separate power sources, as long as both are connected to the common terminal of the machine - and NOT to anything else, like locomotive power. If in doubt, use only one power source.

Other things you might want to consider:

  • Use a capacitive discharge circuit if a button or switch might stick in the ON position. Protects both the switch machine and the power source.

  • The diodes in a diode matrix require switch machine power to be DC. So does a CD circuit. Win-win situation.

  • If mounted on a nearly-vertical control panel, the studs of a hot probe and stud turnout control system are the least expensive point controls ever - and they CAN’T stick ON. (Wh

3

Chuck Thank you,

Just the feedback I was looking to get from an advanced hobbiest… I built the first layout with EZ track and knew better on the second one (under construction) but could not get myself not to recycle it again … Cost issues… But I have seen what has been done with Kato and Atlas snaptrack which looks very good … I thought I could do the same with a good doctoring of the track and ballast with the EZ… The turnouts were my biggest question… I have seen a lot of layout lately going with the manual… I have the DC control shelf and the main yard in the midsection of the layout making it very easy to reach… I found myself on the first layout throwing the turnout manually even though it was wired… Chuck once again thanks for your comments