Question on Remote Control track wiring needs and action cars with coil couplers.

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have been studying the switch activation on my Fastrack remote control switch and have some questions.

This is the 5 rail track with the magnetic decoupler.

When I push the decouple button, the magnet activates and both the left and right auxiliary tracks get center power. This is to handle both magnetic and coil decouplers as I understand.

When I push the Accessory button. The one side of the auxiliary tracks get center power and the other gets outer rail connection or ground.

The accessory switch also powers the magnetic decoupler at the same time. That is what the button is doing. From the schematics I see, that is the design.

I am replacing the switch I have for reliability. I am wondering if I need the accessory button powering the center magnetic decoupler also?

My question is do any of the action cars need the magnetic coupler and the powered and grounded auxiliary connections together? Do I need to keep it this way or can I modify it to disconnect the magnetic decoupler and reduce power loss and increase the function of the action cars?

2nd question, action cars with coil decouplers. Is it recommended to remove the coil decouplers and use the magnetic ones instead? Example the Milk car I have also has coil uncouplers which uncouple when activating the car since the pickups provide power to both the coil couplers and the cars action. I have found the coupler on the side near center power pick up can get very hot if running the unloading action too long. The car action seems to work much better without the coil couplers attached. Less power loss.

Thank You

2

Update, replaced the switch and it is a night and day difference.

replace the switch with a DPDT momentary contact switch. ALL the action cars work great and consistently. The milk car with the coil decouplers uncouples when the milkman unloads, but that is the design. With a good switch, the decouplers are not drawing enough to cause a problem.

Fundamentally my Fastrack remote control switch didn’t do the job for the higher current load cars. Maybe there is a way to fix it but it was quicker and easier for me to figure out how to wire in a more reliable switch.