DCC issues

[SDCowboyBen]

  All my track is EZ track and all my turnouts are Bachmann pre-DCC. I am going to use a NCE DCC system to control all of the turnouts using NCE stationary decoders. So first I noticed that I have 2 types of toggles, A) left or right and B) left or right then momentarily push. Are there two types of switch machines in use? If not what type am I using? (STALL or?)

Secondly, there are a combo of 3 green wires going from the switch machines to the toggles. Is the middle one a common or ground wire?

[jbrock27]

All my track is EZ track and all my turnouts are Bachmann pre-DCC.

Does this also mean your track has black roadbed?  If so, it is steel and not ideal.

Is the middle one a common or ground wire?

These 2 terms are often used interchangeably to designate the same function.  To answer your question, yes, the middle is the Common.  The other 2 send momentary jolts of current to change the switch points from straight to divergent on the turnout (for normal DC or AC current operation via switch controller box).

PS-You may wish to reconsider controlling turnouts via DCC.  Check around, you will find most folks don't find the extra trouble to do so, worth it.

[Jhanecker2]

SDCowboyBen : regarding the different type of switches that you have. Yes there are or were two different types of switches recently in use .  They do basically the same job  .   Regarding the advisability  of  converting  to  DCC switching ,  how many buttons do have to push get one specific  turnout to function and how much are you going to pay for adding extra levels of complications to a simple process .  DCC is on all the time and uses power even if you are not running equipment , depending how large your power demands are you will eventually  run dry. John2.

[jbrock27]

Regarding the advisability  of  converting  to  DCC switching ,  how many buttons do have to push get one specific  turnout to function and how much are you going to pay for adding extra levels of complications to a simple process .  DCC is on all the time and uses power even if you are not running equipment , depending how large your power demands are you will eventually  run dry. John2.

As I had mentioned, something to reconsider

[Hunt]

. . .
first I noticed that I have 2 types of toggles, A) left or right and B) left or right then momentarily push. Are there two types of switch machines in use? If not what type am I using? (STALL or?)
. . .

The remote type A and B toggle slide switches are connected by the 3 green wires to same type switch machine in the turnout - twin coil solenoid type switch machine

. . .
Secondly, there are a combo of 3 green wires going from the switch machines to the toggles. Is the middle one a common or ground wire?
. . .

The middle green wire is the common.

[SDCowboyBen]

Thanks for all the replies! I like the idea that when I want to toggle on the NCE controller you can have designated almost any number up to 9999. So for each district I could have 2000, 3000 and so on. It is basically one control to get to the booster and then the number of the booster. But I can relate to the fact this might cost me a great deal of money. Currently I have 23 turnouts. But NCE just announced the Throw-it and Throw-8. If I use the throw-8 I would need only 3 decoder boards. Choices, Choices.

[SDCowboyBen]

Thanks and we can end this thread now.