Miniature Slide Switch Question

I am looking at buying some double pole slide switches (no center off) for use in manual turnout throws. Description says working power is 0.5 amps 50 volts. I plan to use one set of contacts for frog power and the other for LED signals (with a suitable resistor) I will be running a roster of HO scale Mantua, Roundhouse and other old steam locomotives as well as Bachmann, Athearn and Proto diesel and steam power. Power will be entirely DC for now with the eventual addition of DCC in the future. My question is: Are these switches adequate to handle the power draw I'm looking at. I want to figure that out before I buy these and put the work into building the turnout throws.

 

For what it's worth, slide switches require rectangular holes which can be somewhat of a pain to produce. You probably have this covered.

 

I'm a bit confused.......you say you'll use one set of contacts for frog power and one set for signals. You need to use both sets of contacts for frog power because you need the polarity to the frog to reverse when the turnout is thrown......unless you've found a switch that has multiple contacts for each side.
The switches you mention should be adequate........they would handle 25 watts and I would hope none of your locos would draw anywhere near that, but there's not a ton of safety there.........if your loco (or locos) draw more than 1.5 amps you'd be maxxed out.

 

They are 2 position (on-on) switches with 6 contacts. I don't think any of them would draw more than 1.5 amps. i would be very surprised if they did, but admittedly stranger things have happened.

 

Since there are several to be done, I'm looking at putting together a simple jig for my plunge router.

 

Having considered Dave's remarks, I went with a slightly higher capacity switch (still cheap). Going to be a while before I actually start building the throws, but I will post on progress. I am at the planning stage right now and just want to come up with stuff that works. I saw this done on YouTube, so it's not an original idea. Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

That's an excellent idea -- fast, safe and repeatable.

 

I'm thinking those switches are middle 2 contacts power in, and the other 4 are power out, 2 for each on position. But you should still be able to tap off the power leads to power signals so your plan still works. Remember the frog changes polarity depending on route chosen. On a left hand turnout, the frog is part of the left rail running straight thru, but a part of the right rail on the diverging route ( reverse for right hand turnout ). So your switch needs to make that polarity change.

Going to a larger switch is probably a great idea......might cost you a small amount up front, but better to be safe than find out later that "probably good enough" wasn't good enough.

A jig is always a good idea if you are doing multiple copies of something.

Good luck on your project.

 

Only a single pole switch is needed to change frog polarity. Common to the frog, one end to one rail and the other end to the other rail.

Doug

 

The plan is to use the other set of contacts for LED signals to indicate turnout position.

 

Yes, understood. I was addressing the idea that a two pole switch is needed to reverse the frog polarity.

Doug