Options for Wiring Whisker Tracks, approximately 14 tracks. New benchwork, new layout. Turntable is a Millhouse 34 inch.

Gerard,

Here's what I did. Many other options out there. have fun!

John

Turntable Wiring and Install

I use a rotary switch mounted on the side of the train table in front of the turntable location. One toggle switch turns power on/off to the rotary switch and the other turns power on/off to the bridge track.  I have lighted bumpers on each of the whisker tracks to see which is powered. Not sure if there is a rotary switch for 14 selections.

@stangtrain posted:

………Not sure if there is a rotary switch for 14 selections.

Add a second rotary switch by having a 3-position on-off-on switch.  Rotary1-off-rotary2.

Title of thread is "Options".  The option I chose for my Millhouse 34" turntable whisper tracks is a BPC module.  Use the iPad app to power them on/off.  Works well.

I powered my TT whisker tracks with the Lionel SC2 boxes.

FWIW, I chose to use the rotary switch since only one track at a time needs to be energized IMO. I didn’t want a locomotive to start moving if the turntable bridge was not aligned. LOL, I am more likely to align the bridge track first if I have only one powered locomotive to think about!

I wired each whisker track separately to individual toggle switches in the fascia board along with the master control.

I appreciate everyone's response. I should have added a request for help with the wiring. Perhaps, a wiring diagram if someone has the time? Thank you to all.

@stangtrain posted:

FWIW, I chose to use the rotary switch since only one track at a time needs to be energized IMO. I didn’t want a locomotive to start moving if the turntable bridge was not aligned. LOL, I am more likely to align the bridge track first if I have only one powered locomotive to think about!

Don't laugh.  That's a real problem when you got lots of things moving.  I've had that happen unintentionally.

I use DCS routes to position the switches for the desired yard lane.  When all the switches are properly positioned a lane track power enable signal is generated.  Pushing the track power button turns on power to the routed lane.  There is only one button for all track lane power.

I originally used a rotary switch. One thing I did do was not run track power through the switch itself. I used the switch to turn off power relays. I like 14 gauge wires for feeders and thought the bundle of heavier wires would put a lot of strain on the rotary switches terminals. While I liked the function of the switch. I found you needed an indicator light to know what track you dialed up.

When I added DCS I added a toggle switch that had to be thrown after you dialed up the right track. I did this after finding out as you rotated the switch the brief power applied to each track would start the DCS engine up in conventional as it would miss the watchdog signal.

My hopefully final rendition is all  toggle switches lined up in order for each track they represent.

@Gerard Colf posted:

I appreciate everyone's response. I should have added a request for help with the wiring. Perhaps, a wiring diagram if someone has the time? Thank you to all.

Here are some pictures and a simplified wiring diagram for my Atlas turn table.  I probably omitted a diode on the LED whisker track indicator lights, wiring- they only show a resistor feeding the LED.

Abbreviated circuit diagram

Here is the feed to the track indicator LED. there is a resistor and diode under the shrink wrap

Here is the junction box- I have nine whisker tracks.  10 is a dummy

Here are the LED indicator lights

perspective with table in the background and the junction box

Junction box- "turn is a spring return switch with a dead neutral position, table is the power to the table track

Thank you to all for your help.