After installing the turntable motor (see previous topic on this forum), I set to work on the radial siding track around the turntable. In an earlier thread, I discussed how I used a laser level to help align the tracks around the turntable. The following photo shows the 21 tracks that I installed.
Note in the corner I now have a place for Lionel’s Locomotive Backshop (that up until now has been in its box. I guess for the last 5 years!) Over on the left is the control tower from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry old train Layout that I obtained on eBay a few years ago.
TRACK CONTROL
Because I will be using DCS as well as TMCC I needed to wire each of the tracks with both a ground and live wire to be able to control each separately and deliver power to only one of the lines at a time. If I had 21 engines one per siding and activated DCS all engines would turn on DCS control mode simultaneously. The drain on my power would be significant so instead I opted to install a 24 position 2-pole rotary switch 9 amp capacity (I have two sources for the rotary switch Diamond Scale and Mouser Electronics (D9 Series from Electroswitch)), the cost was approximately $50.00.(whew! ). I next connected all lines to the switch directly (positive and negative to each of the poles)so that only one would be powered at a time. Of course the turntable track would always be powered, as would the three incoming lines.
The following is picture of the web of wires to the rotary switch (note also the simple wood brackets on each side that will support my control panel). Recall that DCS doesn’t like too many power blocks before the TIU. To avoid that issue as stated, I wired the rotary switch directly to each siding.
It’s a splendid turntable Alan, also the control panel looks really proffesional. There should be an article about it in CTT !!! (HINT HINT)
Really impressive.
Very very nice and well done. A bit surprised that a rotary switch would cost $40.
The indexing stops sound interesting. I was thinking of doing something like the Wheel of Fortune, using click stops to lock it in place and programming in for the number of clicks to each track. But your method sound much better.
the $40 figure is the cheapest I found using two souces as stated in the thread above; Each was within $0.50 of the other.
As to operation, because DCS starts up in conventional mode when DCS is on and power is instantaneously supplied to a siding via a switch (due to the power reaching the engine BEFORE the DCS signal) and not starting in command mode that changes the way you address the siding.
the op will be:
decide which turntable siding to energize
set the rotary to that siding
decide which line A or B that will be used to either enter or exit the turntable area
set the A/B switch to set the line
now energize the power that will run thru the TIU to the siding and line in (or out)
the engine on the siding will come up in DCS command mode;
In the alternative I could just rotate the rotary but at each siding the engine will come up in conventional mode as I monetarily power the siding thru the rotary switch
MTH should have had a soft start mode that always sets the engine to start-up in DCS mode, but that is a short-coming of the MTH system in this application. MTH never envisioned sidings operating on/off at will while DCS is on.
There is a long thread on this topic in another other forum- whose name I will not mention.
Yes, it is understandable that MTH would not have foreseen this. Your wide selection of routes is really incredible; a dream for those with more limited space.
Too bad you can’t patent your product and make some money to buy more train stuff.
Nice turn table Alan I have to agree with Daan. The work looks professional, right down to the plate cover and the black screws. That could really go into a magazine.
