I haven't followed this thread until now. I get the idea the edge connector is for the ease of wiring the Tortoise. I don't think the Tortoise was initially intended to be used with an

If you take a look at the guy's web page, he suggests three Digikey part numbers. Even if you don't order from Digikey, it's worth looking up the parts to get the exact specs. I'm not a hockey ref,

I actually just ordered the parts that the website said were compatible. However, out of curiosity I did go out and measure. Inside-to-inside was .141", while outside to outside was .192". That

Okie-dokey! Thanks for the response! Jack.   "History is written by the winners." - anon. "Half of writing history is knowing how to hide the truth." - Capt. Mal

I second Don's comment, the Tortoise is a great device and rock solid. I have some over 10 years old and still going strong. I always solder my wires to them. David Sent from my Galaxy

Jack, It's not the Tortoise that is the issue, it is the connectors some folks try to use with it. DonV

Puckdropper: A clever solution to add screw terminals to a Tortoise. Did you measure the angled hole-to hole pitch? What is it? Some of the suggestions for alternate parts have different dimensions

He Puckdropper: I use these terminals on my decoder boosters. They are really nice and easy to trouble shoot: Here is a cheap

Puckdropper, Thanks for the tip! Any idea as to part number and source of the terminal blocks? Are you a hockey referee? Malcolm Stewart Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 10:08 AM To:

I came across an interesting idea shortly after the edge card connector to screw terminal boards were released. Scroll down the the bottom of this page:

Not meaning to be flip here at all, but if Tortoise machines are such a source of problems, why use  them at all? Jack.   "History is written by the winners." - anon. "Half of writing history is

I am glad it works for you but it hasn't for others who have done exactly that it still fails. You cannot get around the fact the tortoise board contact are not gold plated allowing oxidation. The

And the main reason the edge connectors are flaky is that the tortoise edge is not a standard width for 8 pin connectors. Consequently lots of slop, misalignment and bridging from contact to

Richard; You will have a wire from the switch going to tab 1 and another wire to tab 8. Pick one side and put your LED and resistor in line. When you power it up it may display the wrong color, if

Being involved in the construction or debugging of many large layouts, Tortoise edge card connectors are a serious potential electrical failure point. I have seen it over and over that the edge card

As a fastening alternative, I sometimes use the velcro strapping available at garden centers for plant ties, stapled to a convenient location under the layout. Makes for a very simple, expandable

Your choices of connecting schemes depends greatly on what you intend to do in the future, how flexible or reliable you want it to be, your skill set and how much time, effort and $$ you are willing

Are there any recomendations, suggestions, comments for using edge connector cards vs. terminal blocks for Tortoises? Any discussion of benefits vs. pitfalls of one over the other? Regarding

Yes, correct & I'll add for clarification (it may may modify your responce) that the bi-color LED will be on both the layout itself, next to the turnout, AND on the control panel board. Looking

It will work as well on DCC as it does DC. Puckdropper