I have a question that I can't find an answer to, and was hoping someone here could help me with. I am starting to wire my new layout and need a switch to control my turnouts. The atlas ones I used on my first layout were fine, but on my new layout I want to use something that looks nice and also want to mount them in a panel. The Atlas Description is listed below for reference: Controls Atlas (or other twin coil) switch machines with SPDT momentary action. Button position indicates switch setting. Can be coupled together in any number without wiring. Switch identification labels included. For instructions on how to wire a #56 Switch Control Box, see Atlas' Wiring Book. I have looked in numerous electronics catalogs but can't find one switch that performs two funtions (reversing polarity and momentary contact). Is my only solution to get a SPDT toggle switch and a momentary contact switch and wire them inline? Thanks in advance.
Garth, I have done exactly what you have described except i used a double throw swithc, one for the polarity of the points motors and the other to drive a bi-polar LEd to indicate the position of the points. Here is a picture of my control panel.
I am using 6 position 12 pole rotary switches, which can control 6 turnouts each utilizing 2 single pole momentary contact push button switches for each rotary switch. One black (for normal), and one red (for right or left). My goal was to have a very small control panel and this has worked out well for me.
This is an awesome idea. You could probably replace the two buttons with one momentary contact DPDT switch and make it even simpler, too. I'm assuming that you have all stall motors? Is there any way to get something similar if using twin-coil switches?
You will not find such a switch. For what you are asking is to have one switch perform two functions one momentary and the other continuous. You will need to use either momentary push buttons and a regular DPDT in tandem or go to a manual or pnuematic system to operate the turnout with electrcial contacts to operate the signal lights.
You can replace an Atlas switch control box with a momentary SPDT toggle switch. The switch would have a description like (ON)-OFF-(ON). The problem with doing that is after you throw the switch, the toggle returns to the center so there would not be any indication as to which way the switch is thrown unless you add an indicator of some sort.
