You're showing two different switches.

Yes... Maybe I was not clear.  The first switch, the Atlas #210 is what comes with the TT and works.  I really don't want to use it.  The 2nd picture is a switch I purchased.  A SPDT center off switch.  I can't figure out how to wire it to work.

The last pic is a wiring diagram of how to do what I want with a DPDT switch which is what I think I need.  That is unless someone hear brilliant can tell me how to make this work with w SPDT center off.

Ron

Ron045 posted:

Hello All,

I'm trying to make a control panel for my TT and whisker tracks.  The Atlas TT comes with a switch #210 Twin to move the TT clockwise or counter clock wise...  but it really does not fit what I want to do with my panel.

I purchased a SPDT center off switch that I thought would do the job.

But now that I'm knee deep into the job, I do not think I can accomplish this with this switch.

I think I need a DPDT center off switch wired like this...

Where VS and 0V are my DC power.

Any thoughts?  Do I need to go out and buy the DPDT center off or is there a way to make it work with the SPDT center off switch I have?

Thanks!  Ron

 

Yes, I used a Double pole Double throw, center off switch for my TT.  Note: Momentary, both, ON positions, is also important.   I also added a variable speed.  This powers an older Diamond Scale TT.  Tall cylinder is the variable control. Switch is front in this picture.

Note the cross over red/white wires.  Power is applied to the center terminals of this switch. Red and white off the bottom two terminals connect to the TT motor.

John,

No disrespect, but you and I are on different planets.  I'm talking about needing a switch (not a track switch) to run a motor to rotate the Atlas turntable.  

Perhaps someone else can interpret my Greek and provide some thoughts.

Ron

Mike CT posted:

Yes, I used a Double pole Double throw, center off switch for my TT.  Note: Momentary, both, ON positions, is also important.   I also added a variable speed.  This powers an older Diamond Scale TT.  Tall cylinder is the variable control. Switch is front in this picture.  

Note the cross over red/white wires.  Power is applied to the center terminals of this switch. Red and white off the bottom two terminals connect to the TT motor.

 Ok Mike... You have confirmed what I thought I needed.  Is the momentary really important?  I don't want to hold the switch up or down while the TT rotates.  I'd rather flip it, let it turn and move it back to center when it's set where I want it.

Thanks... Off to Lowes when the boy gets up.

Ron

 

 

You don't need it momentary, but remember that a manual return to off will probably be harder to exactly line the TT up at the correct points.  I'm assuming that since you're doing this with a manual switch that the TT doesn't have auto-indexing.

Well... Lowes was a strikeout.  No DPDT switches.  Our Radio Shack is gone... So I'll have to try an electrical supply house Monday.

John,  The Atlas TT pauses at every whisker track.  It has gearing that makes it stop perfectly giving you enough time to shut it off.

Ron

In that case, I guess a DPDT center-off would do the trick.

Ron045 posted:

Mike CT posted:

Yes, I used a Double pole Double throw, center off switch for my TT.  Note: Momentary, both, ON positions, is also important.   I also added a variable speed.  This powers an older Diamond Scale TT.  Tall cylinder is the variable control. Switch is front in this picture.  

Note the cross over red/white wires.  Power is applied to the center terminals of this switch. Red and white off the bottom two terminals connect to the TT motor.

 Ok Mike... You have confirmed what I thought I needed.  Is the momentary really important? YES!! I don't want to hold the switch up or down while the TT rotates.  I'd rather flip it, let it turn and move it back to center when it's set where I want it.

Thanks... Off to Lowes when the boy gets up.

Ron

 

 

 

---

Here is a video of my Diamond Scale Turntable.   Note that alignment is by sight, there is no indexing system. Momentary switch, push and hold until you are close to alignment.   You can hear the momentary switch move:  to jog the bridge rails, to the correct alignment.  Click on the triangle.  This would be listed as a Momentary/Center OFF/Momentary  Double pole  Double throw Switch.

 

 

Here is a link to the Atlas TT owners manual. Click to access the (4) page manual.  It can be powered either AC or DC and appears to have indexing built in. It does show powering via the selector switch in one of the original post.  I would use caution powering this TT other than what Atlas recommends.   IMO.

Mike CT.

NYC,SUBWAY TRANSIT SIGNAL posted:

Could you sand a picture of what your operating  here.

 

I thought  it was  a Switch Track ? 

 

Thanks, John

John,

It is a DC motor for an Atlas Turn Table.  I was able to get a DPDT switch at Home Depot.  It's not exactly the type I wanted but it does work.  It's very stiff, so we'll see how well it can move on the control panel.

Ron

From what I can tell the #210 switch does NOT have center-off?   In the manual, references to using the 210 suggest it controls just the direction (DC polarity)...rather than the additional on/off function a center-off DPDT switch provides.

So back to the original question, if reason for going to center-off switch was to add start/stop functionality to direction control, then you need a DPDT version.

OTOH if you chose the SPDT switch because it is really cool looking and you can't find a similar DPDT version, then you could use the SPDT to control some below-the-table widget that implements the DPDT function.  DPDT switching can be done with relays or solid-state using, say, a DC motor-drive circuit as used in our trains.  Obviously this is way too complicated when a basic mechanical switch can do the job.  But if your final destination is remote-control of the TT rather than being tethered to the control panel... and you did say Any thoughts?

Mike CT posted:

Here is a link to the Atlas TT owners manual. Click to access the (4) page manual.  It can be powered either AC or DC and appears to have indexing built in. It does show powering via the selector switch in one of the original post.  I would use caution powering this TT other than what Atlas recommends.   IMO.

Mike CT.

I am powering it the way the manual prescribes.  In my case DC.  I just want to use a different switch.  Here is a quick mock up to make sure it works.  Not my final install.

Power to the middle posts.  Out to TT from the top posts.  Diagonal wires from top left to lower right and top right to lower left.  Just like the schematic above in my first post.

Ron

The DPDT switch was VERY tight.  I added an extension to make it more like a paddle switch.  It is much easier to move now.  Below are some pics of how I wired it.

Thanks all for your help and thoughts.

Ron

Don't forget about Integrated Signals systems.com  for layout

They have some pretty nice Railroad Signals for your layout.

Nice job.

Good luck,John

The TT when powered will pause 1-2 seconds after it lines to the next track. This will give you enough time to either leave it engaged or let it operate until it reaches the next track so lining it up will not be a problem.