Recommendation wanted for DPDT switches

George, if your using Tortoise switch machines.  I bought some from All Electronics years ago. They recently closed. They are actually Double Pole Single Throw. I think is the correct term. They feature the 6 terminals. But there is no center off. The Tortoise needs to see voltage at all times or the points will creep off the rails and not fully close. The DPDT toggle will also work. But some  with a little bump leaning over the layout. It’s easy to put  them in the off position which could result in a derailment. The wiring is done the same way. Using the criss cross of the wires to reverse the polarity. These are heavy duty enough to accept crimp connectors. I’m sure with some searching a similar one can be found if not the same ones. Other than the specs printed on it. I can’t find a manufacture. They probably come with screw terminals if you want to go that route. I just soldered 18 gauge wires at the bench seeing you have to cross the outer terminals.

Anything on Amazon rated at 125 v and 20 amps with overall rating of 4.5 stars has worked for me. vendors come and go since i buy periodically. This Rating is overkill for our needs but these parameters have worked for me with no failure. Pay attention to the connections, some are screws, some slip on, etc. Depending on what you want.

I agree on the mini switches

All Electronics refereed me to this site if there were any issues as they closed in Sept..

   www.aretronics.com.    The site seems pretty similar.

I may have misled you with Single Throw. These came up. I believe the key is the On On. Others are listed as

On -Off -On. They are listed as DPDT.

They look to be what I have. I have extras and can spare a couple. Hit my e mail and I’ll throw a couple in the mail if you want to try them out.

DPDT Means double pole double throw.    That is what you have with six terminals are for.   There are 2 isolated sets of terminals.

An SPDT, single pole double throw, has only 3 terminals

In both cases, throwing the switch one way or the other, connects the center terminal to one of the other ones.

If there is an off position, they are called DPDT Center OFF.    If it does not say center off on the description in either case, there is no middle dead position.

Following the same naming logic, an SPST is a single pole, single throw is the typical wall switch for your lights.     IT has 2 terminals, and throwing one way connects them and the other way disconnects them.

These are all pretty common devices, and most electronic supply sources should have them.   Many hardware stores like mine have them too, but they are more expensive than typical electrical supply houses.

Personally, I prefer switches with screw terminals.  I have not purchased any in quite a few years so I searched for "double pole double throw  switches with screw terminals" and the first to come up was a 10 amp switch from Jameco, manufacturer number TBI-2D-AC-6-JVP for $1.89 each.  It is my feeling that if you get the ones with screw terminals, you have the option to use the screw or remove the screw and solder.

Good luck on you choice.

Happy railroading,

Don

Gardner Bender.  Industrial, Very Heavy Duty... not cheap, around 7.00 per with free shipping.  I remove the screws and use spade connectors.

These switches can be (Momentary) with an automatic centering to the (Off) position.  Works well for my turntable, DC motor drive,  Clockwise/Counter-clockwise rotation.  For this application, requires (X) terminal wiring to reverse DC polarity.

Double pole/Double throw Cross-over switch.  Momentary/Off/Momentary.

George

Pretty sure I have a bunch of these that you can have for free   I have to check at the club

https://www.amazon.com/SEACHOI...entary/dp/B000N9R740

@bluelinec4 posted:

George

Pretty sure I have a bunch of these that you can have for free   I have to check at the club

https://www.amazon.com/SEACHOI...entary/dp/B000N9R740

Momentary toggles are good for twin-coil switch machines, but not for Tortoise machines.  Standard DPDT toggles with no center off provision are preferable for Tortoise control, which I think is what George is looking for.

@Bob posted:

Momentary toggles are good for twin-coil switch machines, but not for Tortoise machines.  Standard DPDT toggles with no center off provision are preferable for Tortoise control, which I think is what George is looking for.

Why  I used these with the Walthers Servo motor machines which are similar to tortoises

If the servo 'relaxes' the point may not stay tight to the stock rail.  Tortoise 'stalls' with constant power keeping the point tight.  Momentary switches do not provide constant power.

Yes, you need SPDT switches - single pole, double throw for the stall motor machines.    Double check that they have NO CENTER OFF position as best case.

If you want to also light LEDs on a panel or something, get DPDT switches and use the second pole for powering your LEDs.