How does this work wiring wise? Can someone explain how the switches are wired? do you use 4 of their turnout controls? or?
You use one turnout control for the entire unit. All four turnouts are controlled by the one controller. There is no special wiring.. Stay cool and run steam.....
so if I want to use one of these with atlas code 80 track and power it with one of my MRC dual power 2800 packs, do I need to use their switch controller and & will I also need their power adapter/converter? It would be my only kato switch on the layout.
If you put positive voltage to one wire and negative to the other (momentary) all four turnouts will throw one way. Reverse the leads(momentary) and all 4 turnouts throw the other way. I use 17 vdc with 1/2 of a Tractronics Switchwitch http://users.rcn.com/weyand/tractronics/articles/swartcl/swartcl.htm and a dpdt toggle switch to throw mine. No chance of burning out the coils this way. Al
I would definitely use the Kato controller. You'll also need the power/adapter/converter. There are other methods to control the turnouts but using the controller is the easiest way to solve your problem. Stay cool and run steam...
ah, so the kato switches use dc rather than ac of atlas. good to know, I don't wan tto have to buy their $5 converter and $5 switch controller for one switch. So could I just use an atlas switch control but wire that one switch control up to DC rather than AC? Do people really have problems with the switches burning out? I have many new and older atlas and even some cheaper lifelike switchs and never had a problem (knock on wood)
You will not be able to use the Atlas turn out control switch even with DC. The Atlas and other turnouts have 3 wires coming from them. One of them is a common the other 2 control the way the turnouts moves by powering 1 side of a magnetic coil at a time. The Kato turnout only has 2 wires. By swapping the polarity of these 2 wires (positive+ and negative-) will move the points of the turn out from side to side. The Atlas controller does not swap the polarity when moving the switch from side to side and pushing in it only directs the positive side to the other side of the coil. If you have a constant DC supply (some transformers do) you could use that, and wire a “momentary” DPDT switch up for this turn out. If you need a wiring diagram just ask and I will send you one. I hope this helps.
how about controlling them with DCC? would one of these work? or is they only work with atlas type switches? LENZ LS150 Accessory Decoder Introducing the DIGITAL plus by Lenz LS150 turnout decoder, designed for cost effective turnout control for up to 6 independent turnouts without feedback. Part # LS150 $38.99 http://fiferhobby.com/html/lenz_dcc__n_scale_model_train_.html
You can use a Lenz accessory decoder or you could wire a stationary decoder to the Kato double cossover to control the turnout.(all four turnouts) Stay cool and run steam.....
