I’m not sure where to put this so put it here in general discussion. I’m an old newbie so forgive my ignorance…
I want to add some tortoises to my layout but noticed that a layout support is in the way of the planned yard ladder. The layout has twin l-girders with 1 x 3 cross pieces. How do I resolve this problem? I can’t easy move the cross pieces and if I did, it opens up the ladder but blocks another planned turnout location.
Actually my main question is how does on install a tortoise in a tight situation?
Circutron, the Tortoise manufacturer, makes remote Tortoise mounts. The Tortoise doesn’t have to be directly under the turnout. They might solve your problem.
Can you tell if it is really tedious to use the remote mount? The circuitron suggests that it is tedious for wiring a crossover with the remote versus wiring the crossover with two tortoises. Which would you recommend for a crossover: the remote mount or tortoises?
I passed up reading this thread because the title was so confusing.
Anyway, things like the topic here are part of the hobby. Very often you have to find creative solutions such as how to get a switch machine to link up with a turnout when there is something in the way.
My suggestion is to come up with a linkage that will allow you to put the switch motor near the turnout, and still operate it. I’ve had to do things like that before as well, and it’s a typical MR type of problem. If the OP could post a photo, probably someone here could tell you exactly what to do.
What Circuitron is talking about it the way it is possible, but difficult, to use one Tortoise and a remote mount to control both turnouts in a crossover.
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I would never do that. I would use two Tortoises, and control them both with the same DPDT toggle switch.
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Other than that, using a Toirtoise and a remote mount to control one difficult turnout is pretty easy and straightforward.
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For difficult mounts I actually prefer just to put the Tortoise above the layout and hide it in a building. That is very easy.
Thanks for your reply Kevin! I must confess I’m a total beginner when it comes to using Circuitron products and easily get lost when trying to understand their wiring diagrams. I was able to find an excellent video that discuss how to wire a control panel that tremendously helpful (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTgsdtbt1M) but didn’t discuss how to wire a crossover. Could you please provide more information on how to control two tortoises with a single dpdt toggle? I learn best visual image so it would most appreciated if you show how to do it visually.
You can position a bell crank, “L” or triangle to throw the tiebar. This will allow you to position the Tortoise where you need. A bit of figureing for the amount of throw is all that is needed. If a longer run of throw wire is needed, it can be run inside of a jacketed tube to minimize any flexing on the throw.
It’s no big deal. You just wire the two Tortoises to the DPDT. The two outermost terminals on the Torotoise are where the power wires are connected. These two wires connect the Tortoise to the middle two terminals on the DPDT. On a crossover, both Tortoises are wired together from the outermost terminals, and the power wires are pigtailed with the wires from the two center terminals on the DPDT.
