starting a 4 x 8 code 83 construction. looking at these atlas undertable motors
they look like a weak sister—if things are not perfectly aligned they won’t be
able to operate. is there a stronger switch motor available?
thanks for your assistance----stark@cameron.net
Tortoise which is made by Circuitron is the only way to go. I had purchased a dozen Atlas under table switch machines and gave up in desperation and sold them on eBay.
Nearly impossible to align correctly. With the Tortoise, there is plenty of room for error in alignment. I have now installed 40 of them on my layout without really trying for perfect alignment and all worked flawlessly. Again, Tortoise which is made by Circuitron is the only way to go.
I strongly recommend the Tortoise machines. I initially went went with twin pole machines to save some money. After a lot of aggravation and frustration I replaced them with Tortoises. Problem solved. They are easy to install, simple and reliable. They are a bit more expensive (Shop around, they can be found considerably less than their suggested retail), but they are worth it.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins
A vendor on Ebay has 12 Tortoise machines for $79.95 with free shipping.
Really? I don’t see that one. There is an auction for a 12 pack that is less than that, but I always track those and the close at > $13/ea. I haven’t been able to get a Tortoise for under $14 for AGES. And forget the LHS, I needed one in a hurry so I broke down and bought it, but $15.50 is a bit steep.
Internet Trains sells the 6-pack for $74.98, which works out to about $12.50 each, and the 12-pack for $144.98, about $12 even for each. Their price for a single one is $12.99. Shipping usually runs around $7, but if you buy a couple of things it works out pretty cheap if you can wait a week to get them.
Even better, get on their email list, and you’ll get occasional notices of their sales, some of which include $5 off orders of $50, $10 off orders over $100, or free shipping, etc, etc. I just got a 6-pack of Tortoises from them with a $5 off sale, so the shipping was essentially almost free.
Interesting, their Tortoise price beats pretty much everyone. But their prices on Atlas track…YIKES!.
Back to ordering from umpteen different places I guess.
On an old layout i used a tortoise near the back of the layout where me or my dad could not reach (It was a run around track for the end of a branch line) and it worked great. Rest of the layout used ground throws, I perfer ground throws to switch machines when possible, not because of quality but its more involved. Same reason i use uncoupling pins.
I actually use the Atlas snap switched and they are not weak I must say. They used to be before I got a better transformer with a bigger ohm to power all 16. Now they snap real nicely over to one side. I am now satisfied. It took me to replace that power source to see happiness with them. Tortoise machine $12-15 Snap switch $6. They work great for me. Check mine out http://www.railimages.com/albums/AlfredMayo/akw.jpg
I was going to use the Tortoise machines until I saw the Hump yard levers.
Save me alot of money and no wiring. www.humpyard.com
You think they’re expensive on Atlas track? I thought they had pretty good prices, compared to most other places (and definitely compared to my LHS).
Custom-Line Code 83 anyway - I don’t think anyone beats Standard’s price of $8.40. Except the guy at the local train show in November, where after I figured it all out I paid about $8 each for them. I should have bought him out, I sure could use more right now. Hopefully he will be at the February show with more track and Woodland Scenics stuff. I need turnouts, some more flex (cost $2 a section for code 83!), and some Woodland Scenics track-bed.
The nearest LHS to me (that actually has train stuff) is 30 minutes away, and his prices are basically 50 cents off list, even put sit right on the price tags: List: $13.00, Our Price: $12.50 for example. What’s odd is that he can’t have a huge overhear, it’s not in a mall or anything. The land came from his father’s farm, and he put the building up literally by himself. Considering their primary focus is on RC, they have a HUGE selection of train stuff. Perhaps too much, maybe that’s why the prices are so high, lots of old stock purchased at high prices. I know he didn’t have any discounts on the BLI locos, at least not reflecting the current sale. The other LHS is worse - full retail on most everything. I dunno how they are still in business. If I drive an hour or so I can get slightly better prices, but not really good enough to justify the gas. Can’t beat the online retailers.
–Randy
Yea, that is a pretty good price on Atlas switches. But I’ve bought all I need for my layout, so it’s info I’ll file away for the future. [:)]
Well here is a different opinion. I use switchmasters and believe them to be better than torti. I mount mine on a Rix Rax 2 bracket. I can then mount external 5 amp contact switches for frog power and other items. They are easy to install. I also build up a unit like Allan Gartner suggests at my workbench. See the link below.
My intention is not to start some flame war over popular brands. I am in the minority here. I just like the Switchmaster way better.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/sw_ctl.htm
Scroll down and you will see what I mean.
Tortoise for electrical remote and HumpYard for manual remote. The HumpYard product is really intriging, check it out.
Internettrains.com has a lowest price guarantee. I once ordered a bunch of stuff from them including some turnouts that I did find cheaper on another site. I just wrote in the comment section what I had found and where I had found it. I didn’t think much about it , but when my order arrived I noticed that the appropriate price adjustment was reflected on the invoice. There’s a link on the internnettrains.com homepage which describes the low price guarantee.
Yes the atlas snap switches are a huge pain to put in but they are cheap. I am sad I finnally got all my switches put in and then found out I am moving so that means new layout. But a bigger layout is also a good thing.
Another plus for the Tortoise is that I wire 2 bi-color LEDs in series with the motor leads and I have instant panel red/green indications. The 3mm bi-colors are about $ .25 each and they make switch indications fool-proof…
Right now at internettrains.com Tortoise switch machines are $11.50 each.
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr
Where are the hump yard switches found?There was somthing like the hump yard switches at our Rail road show a couple of years ago,I bought two of them they work fine but seven dollors each is alittle rough.
