Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bruce_Bennett on April 21, 2010, 08:36:17 PM

Title: Over Easy Switches
Post by: Bruce_Bennett on April 21, 2010, 08:36:17 PM
Hi, It's me the pest again.  I heard (dreampt) about a way to add capacitors to the manual switches so if you lean on them, or like I did put a book on them you won't fry them (over easy, get it :). Anyway, anyone heard of this beast? If so how's it hooked up? A schematic would be nice.

Oh, one other thing.  I ordered a couple of Lenz Stationary Decoders for the switches. I would like to keep my manual switches around as a backup.  There close to a yard! Any ideas about the combination?

Got to keep the forum flowing!

Bruce
Title: Re: Over Easy Switches
Post by: JerryB on April 21, 2010, 09:24:30 PM
Bruce:

I used lots of capacitance discharge switch machine power supplies when I was in H0. I don't remember the brand of the manufactured ones, but I also built many of them on perf. board.

Googling "capacitance discharge switch machine" produces something over 26,000 hits, with lots of the first pages being directly on point. Some plans to build, and some manufactured units.

As just one example, here is a link to some plans:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#30 (http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#30)

Lots more similar available.

Happy RRing,

Jerry
Title: Re: Over Easy Switches
Post by: Bruce_Bennett on April 22, 2010, 12:29:53 AM
Thanks Jerry, with a little looking I found Minitronics makes a little circuit board that's just the ticket. My eyes, hands, feet, eyebrows, whatever just arn't what they used to be. It's a lot easier to install a complete assembly than have to cluge up a board anymore  :)

Thanks again for your help

Bruce
Title: Re: Over Easy Switches
Post by: Doneldon on April 22, 2010, 12:39:25 AM
JerryB- Thanks for the reference.  You saved me the work of looking this up for myself.  I appreciate it.  D
Title: Re: Over Easy Switches
Post by: pdlethbridge on April 22, 2010, 06:54:52 AM
An option for those using DCC is a digitrax DS64. Not only will it control 4 switch machines (or it if they are doubled ) but it can be programed for routing. It can be used for solenoid or slow motion (tortoise ) switch machines though not at the same time on one unit.
Title: Re: Over Easy Switches
Post by: Bruce_Bennett on April 22, 2010, 10:32:26 AM
I thought the Digitraxx machine was cool too until
I saw the Lenz LS150 unit could control SIX switches!
Same price.  More bang......

Bruce