Turnout control of Atlas signals

Custom Signals had a Turnout Signal Controller that I believe would work for Atlas turnouts. I am using it with Fastrack turnouts, which supplies a 5VDC signal when the switch changes direction. (can't remember if the 5VDC is for straight or divergent).  Not sure how this signal is obtained from an Atlas turnout. 

Not sure if you can still purchase the TSC controller from Custom Signals, as they were looking to sell their inventory, (maybe to Atlas?)

G3750 I have Atlas track and switches with Atlas switch motors. I used MTH Dwarf signals 30-11038 as they connect to the Atlas switch. They work great. I simply look for red or green light. Plus you can put the signal anywhere. It can be close to the switch or down the track a ways.

Curtis

@CurtisH posted:

G3750 I have Atlas track and switches with Atlas switch motors. I used MTH Dwarf signals 30-11038 as they connect to the Atlas switch. They work great. I simply look for red or green light. Plus you can put the signal anywhere. It can be close to the switch or down the track a ways.

Curtis

Curtis,

Can you supply a wiring diagram?  I was told that Atlas switch machines have no external contacts that can be used for the signal.  How does your set up work?

Thanks,

George

@Joe K posted:

Custom Signals had a Turnout Signal Controller that I believe would work for Atlas turnouts. I am using it with Fastrack turnouts, which supplies a 5VDC signal when the switch changes direction. (can't remember if the 5VDC is for straight or divergent).  Not sure how this signal is obtained from an Atlas turnout. 

Not sure if you can still purchase the TSC controller from Custom Signals, as they were looking to sell their inventory, (maybe to Atlas?)

Joe,

Does the Turnout Signal Controller sit "in front" of the turnout and thus control both the turnout and the signal?

Thanks,

George

The Sensor ( I am calling it that as it is what you run wires from and it senses the switch position, they call it a Dwarf Signal Activator Box) actually fits on the throw rod of the switch. It has a small pin that fits in the hole on the throw rod on Atlas switches. You simply place it so the slide in it works smoothly and screw it down. Then you run 3 wires from it to the Dwarf signal and bring in two supply wires to connect to the other two wires on the Dwarf Signal. If you go to the MTH site (www.mthtrains.com) and type in 30-11038 in the little search box it will bring it up. Then just click on the number and it will take you to the actual description page. Click the support tab then click the purple box with the book and flag in it. Shows a pick of it hooked to Atlas and Gargraves track with wiring. I have 6 of them on my main loop so I can just glance and see which way the switch is thrown without walking 30 ft to the other end. Works great. (Guess I am lazy and old).

@CurtisH posted:

The Sensor ( I am calling it that as it is what you run wires from and it senses the switch position, they call it a Dwarf Signal Activator Box) actually fits on the throw rod of the switch. It has a small pin that fits in the hole on the throw rod on Atlas switches. You simply place it so the slide in it works smoothly and screw it down. Then you run 3 wires from it to the Dwarf signal and bring in two supply wires to connect to the other two wires on the Dwarf Signal. If you go to the MTH site (www.mthtrains.com) and type in 30-11038 in the little search box it will bring it up. Then just click on the number and it will take you to the actual description page. Click the support tab then click the purple box with the book and flag in it. Shows a pick of it hooked to Atlas and Gargraves track with wiring. I have 6 of them on my main loop so I can just glance and see which way the switch is thrown without walking 30 ft to the other end. Works great. (Guess I am lazy and old).

Thank you very much for that.  

So, to sum up, the position of the Atlas switch is sensed physically by an external box (relay?) and then transmitted to the signal.  This is because the Atlas switch machine is quite primitive (a solenoid and a spring).

George

A much cheaper alternative is to use a micro switch.  These are a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch that is activated by the throw bar on the switch.

Here is a micro switch with the switch in the "normal" position.  The wire connections to the micro switch are via the 3 solder terminals on the left.  Top to bottom they are normally closed, normally open and common.  In this position, common is connected to normally closed.

With the switch thrown to "diverging" the throw bar has moved the lever so that common is now connected to the normally open terminal.

The actuating lever can be bent to fit your situation (micro switches with longer levers are also available).  Here is one with a Caboose Industries #208s ground throw.  This switch is in the diverging position since the red surface of the ground throw arm is visible.  Common is connected to normally closed.

In this case, the lever on the micro switch is moved when the switch is thrown to the normal position (green surface of the throw arm visible).  Common is connected to normally open.

I place the micro switch on a piece of cork roadbed to get the height right, then use a couple of small (3/4" long) nails pressed through cork and into the Homasote to secure it.  Note that for the ground throw, I needed to remove a piece of one tie to make room for the micro switch lever.

Micro switches are available from many sources.  I get them in quantity from Amazon for less than 50 cents each.

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-...9?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_6

Curtis, you're not lazy just efficient! A lot of good information on this thread.

I'm preparing to install Atlas dwarf signals in the yard area. I removed all the switch motors from Atlas turnouts and all of the turnouts are now controlled with tortoise switches. My question is can I still use the Atlas signals for switch indication without the motors?

Dave

luvindemtrains

Yes the activation box hooks onto the actual throw rod that the points are attached to so NO PROBLEM. Check out the PICS on MTH web site search 30-11038 and go to support tab then purple box with flag and book.

Curtis

If you wanted the Atlas signal to show block occupation for both routes, it’s just a matter of using switch machine auxiliary contacts to connect the two detector rails to the DIN input of the signal board. If no contacts are available Bob’s micro switch solution would be ideal. You could also use a separate contact to ground the YIN input to have the signal show ‘approach’ as max speed for the diverging route. This is sort of a poor man’s way of showing the signal lined for a diverging slower route. Not sure what heads you are using though, the above rambling assumes just a single head version of their SA, G, PRR ones etc. 

If your signal is on any potentially fouling side of a switch, you could use the RIN input from an aux contact to force the signal to show stop if the points are fouling the route.