Since this layout is overhead I’m looking to avoid large boxy switches. So this is part of the main line. Since access is difficult with only 6.5" of clearance I will be building this seperately then replacing the current single track. As you can see the switch motors will be visible so I’m looking for something low profile if it exists. Thanks.
Servos can be very compact, but there is also a new generation of traditional stall-type switch motors that are much smaller than the venerable tortoise.
http://www.modelrailroadcontrolsystems.com/mp5-switch-motor/
Thank you!
Any tips or website for guidelines?
If you don’t mind “snap-action” swicthes, you can’t get much lower profile than Atlas under table switch machines.
The Atlas switch machine from the middle of the last century is quite compact:
It’s a twin-coil style. You can move it manually, too, with that little sliding tab over towards the left. I don’t have any, anymore; but I think they’re about 3/8" thick and about 4 inches long. And they’re “flat bottomed”.
Ed
Doesn’t get much smaller than a 9G servo. Or cheaper - 10 for $20 on Amazon. Of course you do need a driver circuit to control them, but there are several to chose from. Most have both the buttons as well as indicator lights to show you which way it’s lined.
–Randy
I have 20 of them mint in box, if you are interested let me know, pay the postage and their yours for free.
Thanks! I only need 8. What kind are they?
All these new stall motors seem to have the same problem - they draw WAY more current than a Tortoise so you can no longer use the LEDs in series with the motor as indicators, you MUST use the switch machine contacts. At 100ma for this one, it may exceed many DCC stall motor controllers, if you are interested in DCC control of them.
–Randy
True Randy.
Reading their literature, they use limit switches so there is no stall current which I would find useful. Just wondering if anyone has used them.
I have only seen them demonstrated – the switch points on my own small switching layouts are all hand-thrown.
It would probably be cheap to try one out, since no separate board is needed as is typical for servos (which are also fine).
I have several turnouts operated manually, others with twin coils, a few Tortises, some others with relays, one with a servo, and one circitron motor. It would be nice to try the MP4 but postage to Australia would bump the cost considerably. I might stick with tortises as I still have a box full of them from when the Aussie dollar was worth $1.05US. It’s currently about 77cents US which also pushes the price up further. The MP4s are made in the Czech republic in Europe.
They are the Atlas under the turnout mount.
What is an acceptable distance sticking down? I have a mounting method that gets the tortoise down to 2.75". Is that too much. If not I have photos.