Wiring in DC

[ginzokid]

Have run across a problem with my buddies layout. We are using Atlas turnouts powered by above the table Atlas two pole switch machines. At the opposite ends of the big classification yard are two turnout ladders. What we are trying to do is use one push-button to control two switch motors, one on each end of the yard track. This makes it possible to route trains in the yard without having to run back and forth to each end to throw the turnouts. The yard ends are about 12 feet apart. This means that the push-button is 12 feet away from one turnout while being about 6" away from the other. What is happening is the close turnout is being thrown but the far one does no move. We have tested the motors with equal 6" lengths of wire and both machines are thrown. Does this mean we are losing electrical power to the far motor because of the extra wire resistance due to the length? If so, does anyone have any idea how to increase the power to that far end? We are talking about the three wires that go to the motor from the push-button. Does anyone know just how far the switch motors can be placed from the push-button? We can install a larger gage wire if necessary if that would help. My thought is that the wire length should be equal to both motors from the push-button. B-)

[dl85vette]

I haven't played with the wiring on my switch motors yet. Interesting problem. At first thought, I'm thinking a "stiffening" capacitor may help as it would hold a reserve charge for that extra 'boost'. Oh, I think in the model RR world, it is called a "capacitive discharge system", if you google that Pete, you should be ale to see what I am referrring to.

[barrysfp45]

I have never thought about double switching but I do know my Atlas switches control point motors over twenty feet away and I use phone cable, I have a discharge capacitor wired into the power to the switches and it fires all the motors, I have 72 wired point motors on my layout both Atlas and Peco and have never had a problem so what you are attempting should be able to be done. ]:)

[barrysfp45]

Pete I sent you a couple of ebay listings for the cdus they do fire more than one point motor at a time according to the listings, hope it is a help. ]:)

[ginzokid]

If I read you correctly Barry, you use only one capacitor for the whole layout? How is it wired in? The links are welcome. I'm also going to call Tony's Trains to see if they have anything. We also noticed that a long wire ruhn is possible. I guess it is the fact that the two motors require more juice. Stay tuned for the results. B-)

[barrysfp45]

Yes Pete, only one, power leads from the transformer to one side of the unit then two wires to the first switch unit, as you probably know Atlas switches have metal connectors that can be screwed together from switch to switch, all I do is run wires from the last switch on the row I have under control to the start of the next row, I have about 12 rows of switches, each row controls a different area on the layout, it did take a bit of fiddling to work it out to start with but works better than a lot I have seen, I think if you look at one of the photos in my album you can see how the switches are set up, as I said I have never thought about two motors for the one switch but I have changed about four switches at the one time with no delays at all. ]:)

[dl85vette]

Now that is one that I would change on (future mods to layout) is to get rid of my powered switches in easy to reach places. It was one of those things when building the layout originally was to have a control panel(s) to operate all turnouts. Lessons learned since 2003. My turnouts never got to the stage of being wired yet, so the ones in easy reach (yard/ parts of indust park) will just be operated by hand (saves on wiring labour)

[ginzokid]

We are throwing all the other switches by hand with Caboose Ind. throws. The storage yard is the only place we have machines. Received an answer from Tony's in which it was advised not to try to throw more than one switch with one push button for many reasons. I think we will just use two buttons right next to each other for each end of the yard track and locate them in the middle of the yard. George has a bunch of Tortoise machines but doesn't want to use them. I don't know why because they would be easy to program with a DCC macro. Oh, well. It's his RR. B-)

[ginzokid]

We put pushbuttons on each switch and that will have to do. Also we have an automatic reversing circuit from Tony's that will throw a tortoise switch machine. We installed both yesterday and the reverse loop is now totally automatic. It's hidden and hard to get to, so this works just great. This is all DCC wiring though. B-)

[taz-of-boyds]

A long time ago I made my own CDU, I posted a couple drawings related to it in: http://groups.ebay.com/topic/Model-Railroading-Fun/Photo-Albums/Charles-Taz-Boyds/1600712163&start=2... I don't remember the resistor and capacitor values, but it worked great. I built it because I burned up a a switch motor from a sticking control switch. Hi everyone! Charles