 Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
|
I'm thinking about using tortoise machines to control my turnouts by bypassing the solenoids. Has anyone done this? I find the spring action doesn't always operate the points. The tortoise machines also have the feature of controlling signals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,467 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
|
Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron  I'm thinking about using tortoise machines to control my turnouts by bypassing the solenoids. Has anyone done this? I find the spring action doesn't always operate the points. The tortoise machines also have the feature of controlling signals. Tortoise machines are very bulky - you will need a lot of room under your layout. Also if you have a schattenbahnhof under there you will need about a foot between levels to have the Tortoise motors have enough clearance above the lower track. You will need to use different method of driving them also as they are designed to have continuous power on the motor to maintain the point position. This will be a serious consideration of you are using digital decoders to drive them. But I do wonder what the problem is that the spring action on your existing turnouts won't change the point blades. I have doubts that changing the point motors will fix this reliably. i would expect to do some serious maintenance on the points first to find out why the blades don't move when they should.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,975 Location: CA, USA
|
Hi- I'm assuming K track?
I use them on my Bemo and DC HO projects, and I cannot say enough good things about them. I use the signal function (for color change) as well and it couldn't be easier/cooler. Highly recommended.
My only point worth noting would be to remember these are prototypical slow motion machines- they do no switch quickly like a solenoid, which can be a problem if a train is rushing into an intersection! |
SBB Era 2-5 |
 1 user liked this useful post by 5HorizonsRR
|
|
|
|
 Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,559 Location: Paris, France
|
Originally Posted by: Mr. Ron I'm thinking about using tortoise machines to control my turnouts by bypassing the solenoids. Has anyone done this? I find the spring action doesn't always operate the points. The tortoise machines also have the feature of controlling signals. Hi Ron Another way of controlling switches (K Track) is to use inexpensive servo motors driven by a Switch Pilot 3 Servo. This one can be used both in digital and analog. Small servo are really cheap and good. Usual mounting is under the track and plywood which can be problematic if access under it is blocked by another track level just under it. Tortoise machines are LARGE and not so cheap. For C track I would recommend Viessmann 4568. Compact design, slow motion, access to lower level, usable both in analog or digital. Drawback it is expensive. https://viessmann-modell...rix-c-gleis-ersetzt-4558Cheers Jean |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 3,997
|
be aware that they are also rather noisy. My friend had dozens of them on his layout and when a route was set they would all whine as they changed, drowning out any other sounds in the room. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 05/07/2020(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Mississippi, Vancleave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
