From my understanding these auxiliary switches in HO are used to switched track power. The small wiper contact is sufficient for DC HO current amperage. These contacts cannot transmit the 3rail AC current, has anyone used a Tortouse Relay combination to carry switched track power. Trying to minimize the number of toggle switches on a large block layout.
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You are correct, the contacts are too light to carry track current for O gauge. They are really designed for LED indicators. What you could do if you wanted to control track current, is use the Tortoise contacts to throw a relay which has higher rated contacts, which would control the track power.
Why do you want to control the track power? In two rail it has meaning switching frog power. In 3 rail frogs aren't a problem, but closure rails for short roller base engines could benefit from this technique.
Elliot,
I was considering other options in wiring a large three rail layout with yard and crossover switches, mostly RH,LH and 8 wyes. This layout is block control with East and West Bound main tracks, industry tracks and yard ladder tracks. Both outside neutral rails are to be solder connected to an 8 gauge buss, the only issue is the center rail hot wire. Quite a time ago I purchased the dtdp CK miniature toggle for the Tortouse switch motors, the auxiliary switches were being considered to control led switch position indication lights. I considered using these auxiliary switches to power a relay that was capable switching the AC track current. This seams to be redundant, 10 amp toggle switches would still be required to power tracks, the relay is the redundancy, use the toggles to apply power to these tracks directly. In a nutshell, the block type layout that I built requires numerous toggles, no way to minimize the required quantity.
I'm not sure what your definition of large is. My layout is 1900 square feet, full double deck and some triple. The layout has over 300 switches, and over 3500 feet of track. I would never consider wiring a layout for block control that way. My layout is 100% TMCC, no conventional.
How many blocks are you planning to have?
Are you considering command control (TMCC, Legacy, DCS)?
How many trains are you planning on running at the same time?
How many trains are you planning on having on the rails at the same time?
I see some interesting possibilities, with this concept, but I also see drawbacks. Knowing more details about what you are looking to do would be helpful. I also don't recommend soldering track joints. A lot of work and no real advantage. I have feeders going to every 3' section of rail, on my layout.
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