By Barry Rosier and Mike Dettinger
Manual Slide Switches Ground Throws BullFrog Bluepoint
Slide Switches
Ground Throws
BullFrog
Only requires 2 of vertical clearance Sidewinder Horizontal Mount requires only 1 1/8 vertical clearance
Bluepoint
Tortoise The Tortoise is a stall motor type switch machine Power is via 12V DC Control is via a toggle switch or a DCC accessory decoder designed for stall motor machines NCE Switch-It Digitrax DS64 DCC Specialties Hare DCC Specialties Wabbit DCC Specialties Jack Wabbit Built-in DPDT switch
Tortoise Wiring The Tortoise uses 12V DC @ 15-16ma supplied via a DPDT toggle switch
Tam Valley Servo Controls Power is DC, voltage varies by product Control is via DCC commands or local fascia controllers Singlet Micro DCC servo decoder SwitchWright Single machine with built-in decoder Quad-Pic 4 turnout controller QuadLN_S 4/8 turnout controller with Loconet feedback
Programing Connect power and DCC track bus, install addr jumper, and send a DCC Switch command to the address you want to use. If there are multiple servos on the board the addresses for each servo will be set in order starting with the address you send the command to. Servo Alignment The servo endpoints are set via pushbuttons either on the decoder board or on a remote aligner board. The Quad-Pic has a auto alignment feature Wiring Standard 3-wire servo harnesses
Barrett Hill Trains Servo Controls Wiring Power is 5V DC Control is via local touch controls connected to a servo control base Under layout servo mounts with and without SPDT switch Standard 3-wire servo harnesses No DCC control option
Touch Toggles can be mounted behind translucent glass or plastic. They have an adhesive pad used to mount them on the panel. The control panel layout is printed on paper. The led s shine through from behind the design The touch toggles come in on/off or momentary Touch triggers are designed for use with electronic circuits such as Tam Valley servo decoders or Team Digital boards.
Cost Comparison Manual Slide Switches > $1.00 each Ground Throws $3.00 - $6.00 each BullFrog $7.00 each or $13.95 with sidewinder mount Bluepoint $24.90 each
Cost Comparison Powered Tortoise $21.95 each (no DCC) $54.90 each w/hare decoder $36.93 each w/wabbit dual decoder $40.69 each w/jack Wabbit quad decoder $41.94 each w/jack Wabbit quad decoder w/loconet (decoders by DCC Specialties) SMAIL Tortoise w/built-in DCC $39.95
Cost Comparison Tam Valley Switchwright $35.95 each (built up) $29.95 each (kit) Switchwright bare board $17.95 (no servo, bracket, or fascia controller) Micro Singlet Servo Decoder $30.95 Quad-Pic Decoder (controls 4 servos) $101.71 (built up) $25.43 per turnout $90.91 (kit) $22.73 per turnout Optional Relay board $7.00 per servo + $ 2.00 for the 4 relay daughter board
Cost Comparison Tam Valley QuadLN_S decoder (controls 4 servos) $119.71 (built up) $29.93 per turnout $108.91 (built up) $27.93 per turnout Optional Relay board $7.00 per servo Octopus III Decoder (controls 4/8 servos) $183.42 (built up) $25.43 per turnout $161.82 (kit) $20.23 per turnout Price includes Octocoder DCC board Optional Relay board $7.00 per servo
Cost Comparison Barret Hill Trains Servo base w/servo 4 pack (2), Touch Control 4 pack (2), Servo Brkt 4 pack, and set remote (controls 8 servos) $196.70 (builtup) $24.59 per turnout Servo base w/touch toggle, servo 4 pack (2), Servo Brkt 4 pack, and set remote(controls 8 servos) $185.00 (builtup) $23.13 per turnout
Cost Comparison Barret Hill Trains Servo base w/servo 4 pack (2), Touch Control 4 pack (2), Servo Brkt 4 pack w/spdt, and set remote (controls 8 servos) $242.70 (builtup) $30.34 per turnout Servo base w/touch toggle, servo 4 pack (2), Servo Brkt 4 pack w/spdt, and set remote (controls 8 servos) $231.00 (builtup) $28.88 per turnout
Turnout Control Methods Thank you for attending our clinic