How to control manual streets wye

Surly someone has an idea how to this.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Ken M

If you or someone familiar with how a Streets system works can re-state what you're trying to do in general electrical terms, I think you'd get more ideas. I have no idea how a Streets "wye" is controlled, what kinds of voltages are involved, how vehicles are sensed in the first place, etc.  If this were a 3-rail AC train with a traditional switch, I can imagine various solutions to do what you describe.

Ken:

If I understand what you want to do, you want to have one vehicle control another vehicle plus you want to automatically control the direction of the points on the Superstreets non-motorized wye-switch.

I’m not sure that Lee has covered that yet in his 'Streets books but I think he’s working on it.  You might look into that first.

But controlling vehicles on Superstreets has been discussed on here.  In general, the problem is detecting the lead vehicle.  I’ve successfully done it with MTH Railking PCC’s but light-weight 4-wheel vehicles like automobiles, trucks and the K-Line bus shown in your photo do not work well with the Superstreets insulated outside-rail sections.  I believe others have posted similar unfavorable experience on here.  Dale H posted a way of using reed switches and magnets to detect vehicles.  But regardless, once you detect the vehicles then you need to turn off the power to the controlled sections of track which requires a relay.     

Regarding controlling the wye-switch, there may be better news on that if you just need to fix the direction of the points for a vehicle entering the switch from the single branch.  I believe that can be done non-electrically by just spring-loading the points.  It should be possible to attach a low-pressure spring to the throw bar so that the position of the points for a vehicle entering the loop is always the same and a vehicle returning from the loop will move the points with its wheels with the points springing back after the vehicle clears the switch.

HTH,

Bill

I can't tell from your photo or dealer photos, but is that a throwbar at the straight end?

You could use a DZ1000 switch motor or a Tortoise motor if it is a throwbar. Then an outside rail could be setup for non-derail.

Yes that is a throw bar strictly manual but I assume a switch motor would work.  I have never used one.  I will have to look into one. Is one better than the other?

Thank You

Ken M

I don't think one would be easier than the other to adapt. The tortoise setup is underneath the table. It would look better. Check out both of them. Threads on the forum will have install tips.

Thank you I will look into that somemore

Ken M

Ken,

Not an electrical solution but might accomplish what you are trying to do.  Here's a thread I posted for a 'Streets Wye that I modified for a similar purpose.

Larry

ken,

Look at this layout progress, page 5, for some installation photos and tips.

here's the manufacturer website with info.

It's not too bad of an install job to get a powered switch.

Then you can look at some other ideas using vehicle(train) detection to automate it.

WBB will have regular switches sometime soon. Would a regular turn-out work better in your design?

I hope that helps you find some solution.

Ken,

So if a Tortoise switch-motor (or similar) control the throwbar and magnets/reed-switches as suggested for lightweight vehicles sense the vehicle, does that answer your question?

I re-read your original post several times and I still can't picture the geometry of the cul-de-sacs, "passive" wyes, "active" wyes, etc..  If you could post a sketch of the street configuration identifying the wyes and maybe use a colored pen with arrows showing the vehicle route, I think this would be needed to specifically identify relays, timers, circuits, whatever that would hook the sensors to the wye actuator. 

Wouldn't this be continuous operation so the "first" and "second" vehicle swap on each pass?  There are published how-to circuits for alternating two-train stop-go operation...if only I could understand exactly what you're trying to do!

You can do either of:

a) Use a tortise - I haven't done it but clearly it would not be that difficult.

b) Use a solenoid.  This I did do.  I spring loaded the arm on the Y so it would always flop to one side, and the solenoid (bought from Amazon industrial and scientific section, not sure which model #) is connected to the other side.  Hit a switch for 12 V to it and bang, it pulled the switch to the other way, and the car/truck/trolley goes that way.

Having done this, I then put it in a box and am going to wait for the WBB cutouts, supposedly to be shipped this month.

What are WBB cutouts

Thank You

Ken M

I think Lee meant TURN outs which many of us are anxiously awaiting. 

Bill

Yeah, I was typing that while I was talking to my son about 8-second street Camaros - cut-outs, turn-outs . . . too many hobbies. 

Lee:

Re the shipping date of the E-Z Streets Turnouts, it looks like they won't be available until sometime between January and the end of March.  See my post below responding to another Lee's post on this subject:

November 20, 2014 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by phillyreading:

According to info by 3rail(admin person) on the Bachmann Williams forum the E Z Streets sets are on the way, should reach retailers by mid December.

The switches are expected to be shipped in January 2015.

Lee Fritz

Lee:

I’ve been anxiously awaiting those switches (turnouts) too and thanks for asking on that Forum but I saw their response and FWIW I believe it said “1^st quarter of 2015”, rather than “January 2015”.  

But what’s another 2 to 4 months when I’m trying to finalize my streetcar track plan that I’ve only been working on since Superstreets came out in 2005!    

Bill