PLEASE HELP! I have been a Happy N Scale Kato user for many years. Now I need a new Layout Control Panel and I want to make one with studs set in the track diagram which when touched by a probe changes the turnout to the route where the stud is. I have the track diagram and inserted all the studs. But in UK all pre-wired turnouts are like Atlas with three wires from them, a possitive, a negative and a common return. HOWEVER as you know Kato turnouts are pre-wired with just two wires. My question is :- is it possibible to wire Kato turnouts to be worked by the stud and probe system? And if so HOW???? I've tried all ways I could think and drawn blanks or sparks! LOL PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP ME!!!!
I have no clue what the stud and probe system is and how you would integrate a Unitrack turnout into it. Stay cool and run steam.....
It will NOT work as you envision it. From what I understand, the Kato turnouts work dependent on DC current polarity, while the "stud and probe" system only works with twin coil solenoids, which are not dependent on polarity. Thats why they have three wires, one to each coil and a common return. There might possibly be a workaround using diodes, but this would be sort of like using your computer to add 2 plus 2. :embarassed:
"Thirdrail" You are starting to confirm my deepest fear! I just hope and pray SOMEONE out there can tell me that there is indeed a way to do it! Pete
Diode Matrix I think this is called a diode matrix system. There have been articles in Model railroader explaining it and how to do it. If you google search, you might get some ideas or confirm that it cannot be done with Kato turnouts. Check this. UK diode matrix group. More
Pete, Don't despair, it is very easy to do. It can be done several ways, but probably the most economical and easiest to understand is to simply construct a dual polarity power source. One 24VCT (center tapped) transformer and two diodes are all you need for it. Total cost here in the US would be less than $10. Any number of turnouts can be powered by this, just add more studs to each side. This is very basic, and you could easily add a couple of capacitors to it for a little extra "umph"
Kato Switches & Studs I think I am about to loose another popularity contest. Option A. Kato switches operate on DC. In order for the studs to work you would need to be able to reverse the polarity at some point. The Diode's in Nelson B.'s diagram may be the solution to your problem. I would try that. Diodes only allow the DC current to flow one way. Option B. I accomplished the same purpose by using one single push button and a DPDT reversing toggle. Depending on the way I want to align the points of the switch I would set the DPDT reversing toggle in that direction and push the button. I was going to suggest another solution however, the more I look at it the more sure I am it won't work. Hope this helps.
