More Tortoise questions from a slow turtle . . .

Eliot,

Fourth, I wold like to use the DCS/AIU to throw the switches. I am an electrical know nothing and I would love a diagram which shows the connections. Could one of you do that for me? 

Refer to The DCS Companion 3rd Edition, pages 76-77 and 89, for discussions and diagrams regarding connecting Tortoise switch machines to the DCS AIU.

This and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at OGR’s web store!

Thanks, Barry. Appreciate your help.

Eliot

We used Ross switches but the application works the same. YES, drill a hole in the end of the throw bar, not the center of it. The HO guys use the center as it requires a lot less travel than our O switches.

Center the jig accordingly for the hole on the outside of the throwbar. You can turn the Tortoise either way depending on clearance underneath the layout. As long as the spring wire moves in the same direction as the throw bar.... you're good to go.

We used a couple 12v DC wall warts we had laying around from old routers or cordless phones. Each was 1amp or 1.5 so we used 1 for each side of the control panel. It was just easy to keep track off that way.

Depending on how thick your benchwork/roadbed is, you may want to drill a bigger hole. We went with a 1/2" hole and a stiffer wire. The thicker the roadbed, the bigger the hole needs to be for travel clearance.

Thanks Doug and Tom !!

Scrappy  

maybe these photos will help.   throw bar hole should be 1/2 " Dia. at least. drill a tiny pilot hole first. I use one template over and over, I cover it with scotch tape. 

1 postion turnout where it will be and center the throw bar (not curved and not straight) Drill pilot hole for throw bar. 2 place flashlight over pilot hole, locate template on underside, the arrows are the direction of track and the light will help you locate the template, then drill the holes for screw mounting.                                                                                             3 remove template and turnout then drill 1/2" hole for throw bar. the hole may have to be larger for thicker roadbed.

Clem

 We have about 60 tortoise on the layout that never fail, however  we thought about using  an aiu and decided against it because they require an special relay (latching) to keep the stalling feature of the tortoise working.

If you have Barry book,  it  should  mention the latching relays. Unfortunately we can't  include the switches in the record /playback unless we modify.   

So can you throw the switches remotely or do you have to use a panel?

 Since this is a walk around layout the toggles are close to the turnouts. We can't remotely  throw the switches.  Some switches are even hand throws.

To avoid having to use an additional power unit, you can make your own DC if you want to.  There are lots of diagrams on the web for doing this.   The easiest way is to use two diodes (cost about 10 cents each), and create a + bus and a - bus that run around the layout to be used as you desire.  Add up all the Tortoise machines, multiply by the amperage that each draws (remember that they all will be "on" all the time, since they are stall motors) and size your DC supply accordingly.

By the way, that template / flashlight idea falls into the "why didn't I think of that!" category, and should be considered for the "All Time Top 10 Ideas" prize in model railroading.

You can use the AIU for your tortoise just use the accessory posts, then ON is curve and OFF is straight. then you can make routes also only they will be called a scene. A couple of cheap diodes will give you the DC current you need. All this is in Barrys book, or the diodes for DC in your Tortice instructions. In this configuration they call them steering diodes. Remember the AIU is just a bunch of electrical switches (relays) half are momentary and half are on/off.            I am not an electrical person.

Clem

Thanks GregG, Clem and Arthur

Scrappiron, there is a man who goes by arthurhouston3 on youtube. He models in ho,but has a video on how he mounts these switch machines and it is very slick and if I recall very quick. You should check it out. Not all technics may apply for you, but sure most will. It is very indepth for a 30 min or so video. He also has a clever and cheap trick to help in mounting them. His channel also features other peoples layouts in good quality and some are very nice. I learned a lot and some of these HO ideas and scenes I will incorporate in my future last big layout some day. Well worth checking his channel out.