I have a bunch of those Atlas N scale remote switches in my hidden staging area. The momentary switches that you mount on the control panel to run these things have got to be the ugliest things on the planet. What can I replace them with (something kind of small would be good)?
I used mini toggles. They are on off on and are momentary contact in the on positions. Worked great and looked way better than the Atlas switches. Can be bought for cheap at several of the large electronic supply houses…Mouser, Fertiks etc…
I used double throw toggle switches with a momentary switch. the toggles were set into the schematic to indicate the direction the points were set and the momentary switch was used when route selection was complete. This worked fine with only a few motors but may not be suitable for large yards on a single board.
Check this systeam out
this is the systeam I use :momentiary contact push buttons(radio Shack)Red for sideings and black for main line[^]Toggles are for control blocks.
Oleirish, that’s really similar to what I’ve got planned for my layout. Only difference would be that, instead of using DPDT switches to show turnout direction, like Peter suggested, I think I’ll use the momentary pushbuttons to actuate the turnout and also to illuminate a small facia mounted light or LED to show direction, such as green for ‘normal’ or open turnout, and red for ‘thrown’ or diverging route.
Now we’re cookin’ with gas!
Is there a way to do this which would allow the LED indicator lights to stay on ? From what I understand, if you use the solenoid switches (like Atlas), there is no “normal” power supply in the line - only a momentary jolt when you hit the button. The only way to get an LED indicator light to stay lit is if you also get the Atlas “snap relay” solenoid switch, which costs about the same as the turnout actuator switch.
I originally wanted to use momentary toggle switches, but they are self-centering and do not indicate the direction of the last switching action. I ended up using the ugly Atlas switch control boxes because the slide switch can be used as a direction indicator.
Sorry that is a bad picture,but the red and black buttions are momentary contact switches hooked to the atlas switches,the toggles are DPDT used for block control,Again sorry about the picture.Now you plan on useing red and green LEDS for driction,Please tell me how to wire that?[:)]Now I’am getting ready to bulid a new lay out(pike) an I’am going to use tortoise switches,much better switch machine[^]
OLE’IRISH
I would also like to know how to do that???
Go to www.awrr.com, click on “more circuits”, then click on “turnout direction indications for twin coil & stall motors.” He has quite a few circuits in there for indicators that stay on after a momentary switch closure. His diagrams show momentary centre-off toggle switches, but pushbuttons can be directly substituted for them.
If I could figure out how to send you a pic of this I would but I will try to describe it to you. I took a piece of white hardboard, cut it approximately 12 X 18 inches. Used black pinstripping (Automotive) to make a map of teh track in my yard. Driiled a small hole through the pinstripping for each switch direction. Dropped #17 (I think) (small) nail into the hole soldered a wire to end of nail and attached the wire to switch machine. Then took a lead wire from a mutitester and attached it to a hot wire. Now when I touch the tester lead to a nail head on the map the switch goes to that direction. Very easy to operate, any idiot could operate it. I mean I can. It sound complicated to make but it is easy. Wish I could send you a pic of it but don’t know how.
I think it’s called “hot probe” or something like that. I remember seeing it in magazines and wiring how-to books years ago. I almost went that route myself, but settled on switches. It’s a darn sight cheaper than switches or pushbuttons and you can get them much closer together on the board. Haven’t heard anything about that method for years, but I’ll bet there’s a lot of people out there using it. Just goes to show that low-tech often works as well as high-tech.
I had the push button type and changed to this. I love it, I am tempted to say it is too simple. I still use the momentary push buttons on main line but usa a gizmo with a capacitor which gives a momentary burst of electricity then stops the current until button is released. This prevents burn-outs when someone leans against the button.
Seamonster, thanks for the link to the wiring diagrams! That definitely looks do-able for me. One of these days, I think I’ll upgrade my system to use something like that.
I bookmarked it as well, Thanks!