Peco Switch Machines

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Recently there was a thread about Peco extended pin switch machines. I did a search to purchase a couple and noticed that there are also low current machines.

Anyone have experience with these? Do they work well? Any special power considerations?

My roadbed, plus sub roadbed is about 1 1/4" thick. Will this be a problem?

Thank you in advance,

Mark

2

the “standard” Peco switch machine extends 1 and 1/8" below the bottom of the ties on the turnout. There is a bottom pin which could be snipped off in which case the standard Peco switch motor is about 7/8" below the bottom of the ties.

I mention this because it might not be necessary for you to use the extended pin Peco machine, but you would have to create the opening for the machine and presumably wire it before installation.

The extended pin machine could be 1" or a bit more below the bottom of the tie of the turnout depending on how it is mounted.

Dave Nelson

3

The OP asked about the low current version. I too am curious about the low current version vs. standard. Comments?

In addition, if you have an extended pin Peco switch machine, can those be mounted above the surface as well as below, and if so, what method/bracket would be used?

4

Gidday Guys, no personal experience with the low current version but here’s a little more information that I hope is of some use…

http://www.anticsonline.co.uk/767_1.html

Cheers, the Bear.

5

The PECO lower current point motors have finer guage winding wire for the solenoid coils, so there are more “turns” of wire in the soldenoid coil. Performance wise, there is no discrenable difference from the higher current PECO point motors in my experience.

The only thing to watch out for is that you don’t use a high current and low current point motor on the same electrical circuit (say, for a crossover or in a diode matrix), as you may find that the low current point motor does not always throw reliably.

Cheers,

Bill

6

That link seems to state that the low current machines are oriented towards DCC power supplies which they say use low amperage for accessories.

I am planning on operating my low current under table Peco machine off or an accessory terminal from a small power pack. I an add a CDU if necessary but otherwise just plan on wiring it to a momentary contact push button switch to throw the points.