Switches that are so successful and why I am thinking of ways to screw it up.

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have been powering my MTH RealTrax switches using track power which means that when I am using TMCC they are getting plenty of juice to move the points. They have worked perfectly and I have not had the slightest problem. Nothing has gone wrong in the past four years with any switch on the layout. No bulbs have burnt out.

Now that I am rewiring, I am thinking of powering the switches from aux power. Any thoughts or comments to the advantages and/or disadvantages with aux power supplies and MTH switches?

2

Well, my friend, I can’t think of any disadvantages…in fact, I don’t think the AUX power to the switches even have to be phased to the track power. Professors Bob and Roy should confirm that, though…

3

Do it so I will know in advance how it works. [Thanks]

4

Buckeye,

I do not have any Realtrax, but I believe you do not need to worry about phasing them with the track power feed.

An advantage for aux power is that if the switches work well on 16 volts (or anything less than what you have been running and I assume that is 18 volts or greater) is that the bulbs will last longer.

Have fun!

Regards,
Roy

5

Chief, I have been doing some neat new things with the wiring. When you finally get to Columbus, I will have much to show you under the table. [:D] The trains are so much more responsive with the new track wiring.

6

Whoa! Tom - PLEASE take LOTS of pictures…PLEASE!!!

7

JImbo - don’t worry, Chief likes being on the Floor. He thinks it’s the only way to run trains.

8

I am running four RealTrax switches on 10 volt auxiliary power, and they run great. Should make the bulbs last forever.

9

When a train approaches the switch from the backside, will it change to the direction of the train?

10

OH, I thought I saw a guy run a Baltimore & Ohio F-3 through a backwards switch one day. [;)] [my name may be Eagles but I have a memory of an elephant]

11

It was a Baltimore and Ohio FT. Memory of an elephant???

12

Look a like. [:p] Where are the peanuts??? OH, can not eat them until tomorrow.[:(]

13

Absolutely. The only slight problem I had was that one of the switches got stuck internally somehow, and wouldn’t switch electrically. The light was off, and after I troubleshot the circuit for about fifteen minutes, I turned the indicator light and the light came on. switch has worked great since then. The trains would pass through the switch in any direction without derailing, even when it wasn’t working. I’ll leave it up to Dave to explain how that works–I don’t understand it.

14

Thanks Doug. I have had on maybe three occassions the same problem with the light, but the switch worked perfectly. Needless to say my MTH RealTrax switches have been very dependable and not one light has burned out even with the 18 volts I am pumping through the track to run TMCC.

15

Then why screw with them. Now who asks the dumb questions. [?] [:D]