Turnouts

[R*w*m*]

Can I run 2 remote turnouts with 1 switch ?

[rogertra]

Short answer.  Yes, if you know how to wire them up. 


Too difficult to explain.  Try google for a diagram.

[Maletrain]

It is common to wire turnouts together if they need to operate together.  For instance, the two turnouts for a cross-over between 2 parallel tracks need to both be straight-through or both be branching at the same time, so are often wired to one actuating switch.  On double cross-overs, all 4 turnouts are often wired to the same switch.

[Len]

If these are EZ-Track turnouts, cut the plugs off the end of the wire, leaving a few inches of wire connected to the plugs. Seperate the ends of the wire still connected to the turnouts and strip 1/4" or so of insulation off.

The two center wires connect together.

Use a 9v battery and put the center wires on the terminal with gaps. The gaps will help hold them in place.

One at a time, momentarily touch one of the outside wires to the other battery terminal to find which controls the 'normal through' direction of the points. Do this with both turnouts, mark the 'normal through' wires and connect them together.

Connect the 'diverging route' wires together and mark them. Use the stranded wire of your choice to extend the three paired turnout wires back to your turnout controller. Connect one of the plugs you cut off earlier to the extension wires and plug into your controller.

Add power to the controller and try it. If the turnouts operate opposite the button direction you want to use, flip the plug going into the controller.

The method is similar for other brands of turnouts, except there probably be screw connections instead of plugs.

Len

[R*w*m*]

If these are EZ-Track turnouts, cut the plugs off the end of the wire, leaving a few inches of wire connected to the plugs. Seperate the ends of the wire still connected to the turnouts and strip 1/4" or so of insulation off.

The two center wires connect together.

Use a 9v battery and put the center wires on the terminal with gaps. The gaps will help hold them in place.

One at a time, momentarily touch one of the outside wires to the other battery terminal to find which controls the 'normal through' direction of the points. Do this with both turnouts, mark the 'normal through' wires and connect them together.

Connect the 'diverging route' wires together and mark them. Use the stranded wire of your choice to extend the three paired turnout wires back to your turnout controller. Connect one of the plugs you cut off earlier to the extension wires and plug into your controller.

Add power to the controller and try it. If the turnouts operate opposite the button direction you want to use, flip the plug going into the controller.

The method is similar for other brands of turnouts, except there probably be screw connections instead of plugs.

Len

[R*w*m*]

Thank you , the trick with the 9v battery was great . Wired up 3 different sets of turnouts with one switch for each

[Len]

You're welcome. I learned the battery trick years ago on the 'rec.models.railroad' UseNet forum as a way to figure out turnout wiring extensions that lost their tags while being routed under the benchwork.

Len