Controlling a Tortoise from 2 locations

Use a latching double pole double throw relay such as the cheap Atlas product. Your control panel push buttons would be used to throw the relay >snap<

Rob Paisley has several options on his page at:

I didn't trace them out, but suspect the toggle switch versions may not give position indication without using LEDs.

Bob

A very simple solution, assuming the peninsula situation, would be to locate a DPDT slide switch under the layout and operate it with push-pull rods, one from each side of the peninsula. Wired correctly, the position of the push rod button would indicate turnout position.

Charles --

I'm trying to follow this one. Assuming both of the switches have the turnout set to "normal route," when you flipped one switch to "divergent route," wouldn't the other switch still be connected to "normal route" and now you've got electricity shorting out at the Tortoise?

-Gerry

Oops, Try:

and you sholdn't have to sign in. David

David P Harris wrote:

Feed the output of one DPDT switch (wired reversing "X" style) into the input of the second DPDT switch (wired reversing "X" style) and that output to the Tortoise. The switches can't be located to show the turnout route on a diagram because they each reverse the other one. That is the advantage of the push buttons and latching relay - the button on the track diagram does what it is supposed to do, even if the buttons on the opposite side can countermand the action.

Regards, Greg.P.

Gerry,

Article covering this topic in July 2002 MR. If you don't have it, I can try and dig it up for you. You'll need two double throw switches and a pair of 2 color LEDs wired in series w/the motor power.

Christian

Each would be wired in crossover, like a reversing switch.

power source=====x=========x=========tortoise

No shorting.

The switches would no longer automatically display the route though.

You would have to rely on red/green bipolar LED(s) in series with the tortoise to show the route.

Re: Controlling a Tortoise from 2 locations

Take a 1/8th drill bit

Drill one hole in the front tortoise's shell.

Drill another hole in the rear of the tortoise's shell.

Attach a piece of string though each hole.

For the tortoise to go forward, pull the front string.

For the tortoise to go backwards, pull the rear string.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

-- Cheers Roger T.

Home of the Great Eastern Railway

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That is correct, LEDs would be needed to indicate the positon of the turnout if using DPDT switches in series as there is more than one setting for each turnout position.

See the third diagram on the page in the above link.

Rob.

As you have seen, there are a fair number of ideas already. The problem is that the electric motor machines like the Tortoise have a problem in that the direction of the power determines the position of the motor. As such, you usually have to do some electronics and feedback via LEDs or so forth to determine which position that the turnout is at. Some method of a bipositional control needs to be done (an old Atlas switchmotor for example) that controls the direction of the power to the Tortoise will do the job although you will hear a snap each time that the switch is changed. Electronics can also do that same job.

-- Bob May Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less. Works every time it is tried!