Is it possible to develop a schematic the shows where each turnout is on the layout and the position of the turnout. I am using atlas snap turnouts.
Thanks in advance
For control panel purposes?
Yes. I have seen them in different articles in the magazine but cannot figure how to do it.
Depends on how big you want it. I’ve seen one layout in a magazine where the person bought a cheap cookie sheet at a dollar store, laid pin stripping tape on it to mark the track and installed his toggle switches in the vee of the turnout. If the turnout was switched to the left the toggle was leaning left ETC…After they had it they way they wanted it they framed it in some nice wood.
You could do something like that but install 2 light bulbs each turn out, one on each leg. If the turnout is switched left the left light is green (or the righthand light is red). Not sure how to rig the wiring for the lights since if you use switch machines they only draw power when moving the turnout.
Sounds good. I will have to see if that would work.
Thanks,
Other possible materials that can be used depending on the desired look. 1/4" luann/masonite, plain sheet metal, plexiglas.
Some good ideas.
Typipcally, turnout indication on a control panel is done using either lightbulbs or LEDs. Green for the through route, red for the diverging route. The primary obstacle you have is that you’re using Atlas snap switches, which use a solenoid to throw the switch points. You don’t have a set of contacts to use to route power to the indicator lights. You’ll need to add something like an Atlas snap relay to do this since the Atlas snap switches only apply power momentarily to the solenoid when you push the button. The solenoid is the ‘snap’ you hear when throwing a switch. If you push down on the button too long you’ll burn out the solenoid.
You see, I use for some turnouts switches. These turnouts have tortoise motors. Other turnouts are only drawn. These are manually thrown turnouts. Not all turnouts are shown at the panel.
A later version has the turnout numbers. I used dry transfer numbers.
For drawing I made a pattern with linse on paper. Horizontal and at angle, 30 deg and 60 deg or only 45 deg. You must try to get the plan.
Turnouts in the path of trains have LEDs, important turnouts.
Wolfgang
Thanks, I am checking with Atlas to determine if there is something I can use.
Wolfgang, What you are showing is what I am attempting to accomplish. I emailed Atlas to see what they can suggest.
I appreciate the help.
Jeff,
I also use Atlas switch machines, and I did something similar to Wolfgang.
Your best bet is to use a SPDT or DPDT on-on type toggle switch to activate the machines. That way, the position of the lever will indicate turnout direction. HOWEVER, to take advantage of this feature, you will have to make a capacitor discharge circuit to run your switch machines, because if you leave the switch in the “on” position with regular AC, you will definitely burn out your motors in a hurry. If you use a DPDT switch, you’ll have a separate set of contacts that you can use for a separate DC circuit for powering LED indicator lights on the control panel, if you wish to use them. This website shows you how to build this kind of circuit:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/ToggleTwin.html
For electric/electronic supplies, try www.jameco.com or www.allelectronics.com. There’s a few other good ones out there as well, but these are the two I’ve dealt with on a regular basis. In a pinch, there’s always your local Radio Shack, but stuff will be more expensive there.
Even if you aren’t making a control panel, I highly recommend building a capacitor discharge unit to power your Atlas switch machines anyway.