Despite using the traditional Kato Unitrack switch machines for my staging yard on my layout, I am thinking that for the switches towards the front of the layout, I would like to use much smaller switches that I can integrate into a track-plan style control panel.
I know Unitrack switches are a little funny in the way they work, Momentary contact DPDT switches are what is needed... The trouble is, where might I find Momentary contact DPDT switches? I'm not in a hurry to burn out my turnout motors :)
Has anybody else wired up their Unitrack using non-Unitrack switch machines? I have DCC... but I'm currently not planning to do turnout control... at least not yet...
3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Allied has 32 models of DPDT (on)-off-(on) switches to choose from.
Enter:...... switch dpdt (on)-off-(on) ......into their search engine.
http://www.alliedelec.com/default.asp
Personally I prefer momentary contact push buttons. Two for each turnout. On the control panel map, I place the push buttons on each leg of the turnout. You can get them very cheap at your local hardware store or 'Big Box' store. They call them door bell push buttons. On the turnout solenoids, I gang all the ground sides to a ground buss that runs all around the layout. Then I just have to route the hot side of each of the solenoids to one terminal on the appropriate push button switch. The other terminals of each push button are ganged together to the power source. This greatly simplifies the wiring, making troubleshooting much easier. In some cases, such as a passing track or on some yard tracks, I will control both turnouts with one pair of pushbuttons.
Re: 3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Agatheron wrote:
Agatheron....I wired two Kato turnouts up that I wanted to operate at the same time using the diagram below and this setup works fine on DCC. I have a designated small 12Vdc transformer that supplies power to a bus servicing all my Kato turnout throws. This Tfr eliminates the AC to DC blue boxes that Kato uses and I can operate the turnouts whether I am running on DC or DCC.
I could get this system to work three turnouts at once, but not four.
I used miniature momentary DPDT contact switches. As you said, momentary DPDT contact are what is required and we should not use any switch other than the blue Kato ones unless it is momentary contact. Otherwise you run the risk of burning out the solenoid in the turnout and new solenoids are not available from Kato.
GSRjr has a system that uses a capacitor discharge system but I don't know if it will operate more than one turnout at a time. For myself, I prefer not to trust capacitors, considering the trouble and cost of replacing a Kato turnout on my layout.
Despite using the traditional Kato Unitrack switch machines for my staging yard on my layout, I am thinking that for the switches towards the front of the layout, I would like to use much smaller switches that I can integrate into a track-plan style control panel. I know Unitrack switches are a little funny in the way they work, Momentary contact DPDT switches are what is needed... The trouble is, where might I find Momentary contact DPDT switches? I'm not in a hurry to burn out my turnout motors :) Has anybody else wired up their Unitrack using non-Unitrack switch machines? I have DCC... but I'm currently not planning to do turnout control... at least not yet...
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Thanks for the diagram. My staging yard tracks I'm using the Kato Switches to control 2 turnouts each... I only have one instance on the "front" of the layout (so far) which will require one switch to throw two turnouts.
Here's the real $25,000 question... where do you get your Momentary DPDTs?
How much do they cost (in Canuckian Cash?) :)
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
Agatheron wrote:
I get my DPDT switches at the local electronics store and I think they are about $1.50 each, but I'd have to check on that.
The reason I showed two DPDT switches on the circuit diagram I posted, is because each turnout is in a different room so I need to be able to throw both turnouts from either room. Therefore two DPDT momentary contact switches are required, one at location 1 and the other at location 2 in separate rooms.
I also use one Kato turnout throw to switch the turnouts at each end of all switchyard track ladders.Thanks for the diagram. My staging yard tracks I'm using the Kato Switches to control 2 turnouts each... I only have one instance on the "front" of the layout (so far) which will require one switch to throw two turnouts. Here's the real $25,000 question... where do you get your Momentary DPDTs? How much do they cost (in Canuckian Cash?) :)
Re:3rd Party Switches for Kato Unitrack Turnouts
I am currently working on a pushbutton Kato turnout controller. I have a prototype board on the way to build up and try. The unit will be capable of controlling up to 5 turnouts with a daisy chain option to add on addition control units. I just came up with a possible source of the Kato "molex" style connectors and I plan to make these standard so the existing connectors can be used. I may even produce a version with terminals for those that like to extend their turnout cables. No need to splice between the connector. This unit will also accept direct AC input, so no need for an external AC to DC rectifier.
When the prototype is built up and confirmed working, I will post a few pictures and feel out a potential market.
Thanks,
Jason
RPC Electronics
www.rpc-electronics.com
Joined: 2006-01-07