Recommendation for remote switch throw

Garden Railroading
1

Hi everyone:

I’ve got a #6 switch located on a hillside about ten feet out of reach. All my switches are manual and easily reached, but I need some sort of remote actuator for this one switch. I’ve surfed the web and seen some interesting designs using throttle/choke cables. etc. Seems to me that electric or pneumatic might be overkill for one switch. Just wondering if anyone might have a recommendation.

Thanks.

Joe

2

Isin’t electric or pneumatic switch motors your only option (besides manual)? SVRR now has a pneumatic system. Others could tell you about Ez-Air (or whatever it’s now called). On this website http://trainelectronics.com/index.htm I thought there was something about making your own turnout control using a servo and a PicAxe. If I was going to buy some sort of turnout system I would go with the SVRR pneumatic stuff or the Aristocraft Revolution Switch controller.

3

If cheap is priority, find a long choke cable.

Otherwise I would go electric, and maybe a battery to run it.

Pneumatic with a toggle switch (switches air) and a 2 liter bottle pressurized to 100 psi will run a long time.

Greg

4

Greg::

I hadn’t considered a battery-powered switch. I have a couple of LGB remote throws. I think they are powered by 12v DC. Seems like I could purchase a 12v battery (maybe a rechargeable) and a momentary switch and marry them up.

Joe

5

http://www.wamrc.org.au/projects/point_throw/

I use the “L” and join welding wire by soldering to get the 10 foot lenght I needed. The wire is hooked through the “L”.

The wire at the moment just sits beside the track. I pull or push the wire to operate my switches. Just the friction of the wire laying beside the track keeps the switch open or closed. I have seen the wire on other layouts connected to a larger hand lever in the shape of a signal. You then move the signal arm to alter the switches.

site is from the West Australian Model Railway Club.

Regards from Andrew

Sandbar & Mudcrab

6

I’ll be facing this issue very shortly. Five switches on the other side of the layout. I’ll most likely use servos I have on hand, controlled by 555 timer chips. I googled servo controller to get circuit examples to go by. I’ll see whether or not I’ll have to use shielded wire for the signal wire to prevent “chatter” of the servos.

GaryR

7

GaryR,

If you’re considering using servos, check the Tam Valley Depot web site for information about their servo controllers for model railroad use.

http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/