Relay for siding?

An on-off switch could isolate the center rail or all 3 rails. Cut off the mating pins.

 

Lionel FasTrack has a 1 3/8" section with and without roadbed (6-12073 and 6-12074, respectively) that can isolate the center rail.

Hi Dale

I am going to use your (HERE) for my learning curve. Think I shall use 18 vac xformer as my power source.  Not familiar with bridge rectifiers, diodes. or relays.  What will I need to purchase?  What is the reason for the diode across the 24v input to the relay.

Thanks for all the help

Tommy

We used a standard SPST on/off toggle to cut power off on a couple sidings and all the engine service tracks. Works just fine.

You are using DCS, why would you need to control the siding track power?

The only way you would need to add an on/off switch would be if you were parking a conventional engine or choosing ALL on the remote to run all DCS engines at once. Right?

1. Passenger cars on the siding

2. Chronometer runs on a DCS engine as long as power is applied - even if it's shut-down.

3. Albeit just a few Watts but a shut down DCS engine consumes power.

4. A complex layout with a lot of sidings can affect DCS signal integrity.  Your mileage may vary.

Actually? NO! He still may want/need an on/off toggle

Gee, I want siding control simply because we stage trains in the yard with the six sidings.  Each siding has a power switch so you can put stuff on individual tracks without popping breakers and stopping other operations.   Also, controlling the siding power with the TIU connected allows me to get the watchdog signal for DCS engines at power up so they start in command mode.

 

 

I would think the toggle should be connected to the center rail feeder wire only - correct?

Should just the center rail of the siding be isolated with an insulator pin or all 3 rails?

 

Gilly