TJ, You just asked a multiple choice question. First, if you use the same voltage as powers the Tortis and about a 1K ohm resistor you can have a Bi-Color Led or a single color Led to indicate

Tom, If you want to light up LEDs to indicate the selected path, a series connection of one set of the SPDT contacts inside each of the Tortoise point motors will do the job. Think of the double slip

Mark Guries wrote: 1) Eliminate all Power Routing that uses the tortoise contacts. With DCCthere is no electrical need for it. Mark, How do you do power routing on existing turnouts without using

Don, Send the diagram, please. Thanks! --Jon

I have heard that it is not good to use the auxiliary contacts ona Tortoise type switch machine to power a section of track. The moral of the story is not to listen to the "wags" without some proof

HI Mark. I am not exactly sure if we are 'both singing from the same hymn sheet', when it comes to the term, 'power routing'. If you use this in its broadest sense, how do you direct

MY layout has 58 Tortoise Machines and i use contacts on almost all of themachines to switch track power and have not had any problems with contactsburning out.If you are worried at all about a

All, With DCC, there is rarely a need to power route anything more than the frog. This wasn't true in the DC days. By not using the switch machine to power route more than the frog, wiring is

Thanks Don, Just finished watching Rose Parade but will sit down and try and draw out your directions. A diagram would be helpful though. I like the idea of using a Bi-Colored LED where the non routes

Hello, This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the WiringForDCC group. File : /Double Slip Indicators 2.pdf Uploaded by :

I just uploaded a couple of diagrams in the files section that show how to indicated which tracks are selected through a double slip switch using the switches inside Tortoise motors controlling the

If you think more about it... you could dispense with using the internal switches of the Tortoise and simply connect the bi-polar R/G LED string shown in my file in parallel with the Tortoise motor.

Don Yes, but as one poster commented, if it's colour is based on the contact state, you have an indication the switch actually threw (not absolute, I know, but at least the motor saw

Blair, I agree with your what-if scenario that if you only use the voltage sent to the motor… it does not positively show throwbar position. But then again it is also possible that the actuating

Yep, lots of tradeoffs. As an e-tech, I'd probably choose a solution that involved more wiring and soldering than most, as long as it was worth the effort, but I understand KISS too. Blair

I've recently installed a decoder in a IHC GG1 (twomotors), It works fine. But I have a doubt. In DC, operation can be donethrough the pantographs or both rails by means of a switch in the bottom of

The DCC decoder should work from the pantograph or rail/wheel pick-up. Using a SPDT switch to select either one or the other modes makes sense. [Obviously the wheels must be isolated for two rail

I am not an "electric engine" expert as it relates to model using live overhead wire power pickup. Here are my thoughts on the subject. IF the engine was design to ONLY pickup power from the

IMHO: Run as two rail only and forgetgetting power from the overhead. If you are running engines only from theoverhead, then wire that as one side of the polarity and both rails as theother. Traction

Yes that is always the option but does not address the problem. Nothing is improved or solved.Understood as I stated before. But I know that not everyone does this. Right as I stated.True but not