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Thin Branch Series: Switchmotor part 2 - wiring
The preview vidios from MR Video Plus were of good quality; however, all of the initial videos which I watched today (now that you have gone live) had intermittent distortions in the video part of the feed. Are there specific settings on my HP Pavilion PC running Windows 7 that need to be changed? Or is this an initial situation that needs adjustment on MR Video Plus’s end?
Hi,
I just subscribed, and am not very happy at all with the videos. I only tried 2 of them. One with Cody plays for a while and then just freezes with no way to recover. The second one with John Pop was on the switch motor wiring and it just kicked me out part way through it and now says a message, “This video is not encoded for my device”. I was watching it so how could it not be encoded for my device? I’ll give it a few more tries and if they are still this problematic, I will ask for a refund.
Thanks
Dave Menno
Hello Dave, and anyone else having difficulty with the videos playing. For the best experience, make sure you have the latest version of the web browser you use loaded on your computer or device. Older versions tend to have trouble with the video player. If you are still stuck after that, please call our customer service department at 1-800-533-6644. And you can also check out our video FAQ by following this link.
http://www.kalmbach.com/en/Contact%20Us/FAQ/2013/02/Model%20Railroader%20Video%20Plus.aspx
It may also help you. Thank you for your patience!
David
This is a great video. I appreciate the step by step. I’d love to see how you connect the LED indicators on a panel and the track side stuff too. You make it look so easy!
These videos are great. I am at the track laying stage on my layout and this series could ot have come at a better time. David you have presented in a very easy to understand way. I found removing the locking spring on Peco points helps to give the point motor smoother operation.
Excellent for first time users of switch machines but a person could eliminate the work and time of cleaning the back of the hardboard by just “backing up” a piece of scrap wood against the hardboard before drilling.
Hello Scott,
Yes, if you wish to control your Tortoise switch motors with your DCC system, you will need a some different wiring work. Much like the locomotives on your layout, each switch motor will need it’s own special decoder, called an accessory decoder. Many manufacturers make these decoders, and DCC Corner did an overview of them in the February 2012 issue of MR. You can also find them in DCC Projects and Applications Vol. 2. on page 18. Incidentally, Circuitron, maker of the Tortoise, makes a version called the Smail, with its own built in accessory decoder. DCC Specialties makes a decoder specifically for the Tortoise that plugs into the circuit board contacts at the bottom, called the Hare.
Installing any of these decoders is specific to the manufacturer, and many offer PDFs of the instruction manuals on their websites so you can see what it will involve before buying the parts.
This is a good topic, and I’ll add it to the list of future Video Plus projects to film.
Best wishes on your layout!
David
Hi David,
I am using DCC from MRC on my layout. Do I wire the Tortise switch machine the same way as you show in the videos or is it different? I want to control the switch machines with my MRC control to control the Tortise switches! can you produce a video to show everyone?
Thank you,
Scott Lindsley
I’ve noticed that there are 4 videos in the “Thin Branch” series that I would like to view, but I keep getting 404 errors as to missing links or renamed, files, etc. Any idea when these will be available.
I like This vidéo for power the turnout …
But i have a question about dcc ----- to connect two main Line.I should have two différent connections ??. André. (dretardif@hotmail.com). Thank you good Works i like those vidéo…
This was excellent. After watching it twice I was able to install my first Tortoise, something I’d been resisting. Thanks.
This really makes a difficult task very easy. It was logically presented! I am wondering about the Blue Point switches. I’ll have to look and see if there are videos on them too. Again, I am enjoying my “Snow Day” here in frozen NW Florida.
Great videos. Like to see your suggestions for double crossovers and slipswitches in dcc.
What is the difference of having a power supply for your switches and having it come off of your DC controller?
Very good demo