Test board wiring for use with RealTrax turnouts
I have developed a special wiring scheme and a few slight modifications to the MTH RealTrax line of turnouts (switches). I have built a Turnout Test Board which incorporates some wiring features that I have developed for my model control system and illustrates these modifications.
The first photo shows the test board with NO power applied. The other photos show the switch with power applied.
In addition to the MTH controller supplied with the MTH switch I have also built a small control board which shows the use of small momentary pushbuttons and LEDs which could be mounted on a model railroad control panel. With each pushbutton is an LED indicator which shows the switch position.
NOTE: All my special circuit modifications are mounted on the underside of the Test Board. (not shown)
As shown on the Test Board the switch can be controlled any of 3 ways:
1. Using the MTH controller supplied with the switch.
2. Using either of the momentary pushbuttons
3. Using a signal from one of the MTH AIU "SW" terminals.
I use the MTH DCS control system along with a custom annunciator panel which shows the condition of the track and all turnouts.
On my layout all wiring will be hidden including the electrical connections to the turnout. The switch terminals will be accessed at the underside of the switch and NOT through the top side. For example the wiring as shown on my Test Board will be completely hidden on my layout since I will replace the screws supplied by MTH with machine screws, washers and nuts and all wiring will be connected via the underside of the switch.
Note: a photo of my Dispatcher Panel is also shown. This panel has colored LEDS which indicate the "position" of all turnouts and the "condition" of each block. The red and green LEDs indicate turnout position.
The other photos show the powered test board with the switch set to "straight" and "curved" positions.
