25. Model railroad control panels pt 4, The Switch8 Accessory Decoder

[@voodooutt]

This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Push Buttons, LED control and the auto switches! thank you!

[@barrygibson8109]

Thanks for a great lesson on combining the power ,just what I needed for my Robert Schleicher inspired Modular HO RR

[@alphabeta6829]

Thank you Larry, great series of videos. I learned a lot.

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Great instructional video, thanks for sharing!

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE VIDEO

[@brianhill2634]

Hi Larry, very comprehensive videos, especially your control panels. Anyway Larry, I’m new to railway modelling so your advice about control panels will much appreciated. My question: I’m only set up for DC control and my Turnouts are Kato, so follow your guidance do I use same process as describe in your video 25. Thank you in advance…. Brian H(UK)

[@georgebell8241]

And thank you so much for your videos they are very informative

[@mikekendig6781]

Hi Larry. I'm just getting started in model trains and have a question concerning the Switch 8 & the Button Board. Will the Switch 8 & Button Board work with a Kato Renote Turnout ? Thanks in advance. Mike

[@TheDCCGuy]

No, they are a different animal. NCE does make the Switch-Kat accessory decoder for that application and some other companies make versions compatible with them.

[@dannyrickert6772]

If both DC and DCC are used for the Switch8 for power and controlling, will a short occur if the Tortoise uses a feeder wire from the switch frog in either DC or DCC?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Not a problem.

[@dannyrickert6772]

@@TheDCCGuy THank-you!

[@luisarroyave]

Exeellent info. great Job, thank you

[@command15]

Larry, just got my new switch 8 and button board. You show one momentary button switch controlling one turnout. My button board has inputs for a ground wire and two inputs for the momentary switch? Must I use 2 switches or is there a way to wire the single momentary switch with with this board?

[@TheDCCGuy]

These can be used with toggle switches or pushbuttons but you have to program the CV accordingly. This is all explained in the instructions that come with the Switch8 and can also be downloaded from the NCE website’s Information Station section.

[@richardray6827]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. 🚂

[@victorhyiton]

Can that be used with a blue point turn out?

[@TheDCCGuy]

No they are for switch MOTORS.

[@jjsmith406]

Larry, I see you can power the tortoise with DC or DCC using the Switch 8. If fact, you demonstrate both in your video. The Tortoise instructions call for DC power or rectified AC power but say nothing about DCC power. Is it safe to power the tortoise using the DCC power? (I am assuming that if you have the Switch 8 in DCC mode it will feed the switch motor DCC power) Or is it better to run the tortoise motors with DC power having the Switch 8 in DC mode? Thanks.

[@TheDCCGuy]

The Switch8 rectifies the DCC track power and uses it to power the Tortoises.

[@johnmcdermott6220]

Question: The manuals provided with the Button Board and Switch 8 MK2 suggest that separate push buttons must be wired to both the 1N and 1R terminals as well as the Ground Terminal on the Button Board versus your video which indicates that it is only necessary to wire one push button to, for example, the 1N Terminal and the Ground Terminal to allow switch operation. Why is it only necessary to use one push button contrary to the manual supplied with the Board.

[@TheDCCGuy]

If you read the manual it also tells you how to set it for single contact activation so that a single pushbutton is sufficient. I hope I went over the CV programming for that in the video but just don’t remember.

[@johnmcdermott6220]

Thank you, assume that this is done by setting CV 548 to a setting of 1 and that all buttons will work accordingly. Did not understand that from the video.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

@@TheDCCGuy Larry Thank for your help on this here is my procedure for setting the Switch 8 MK2 CV 548 Step 1. Set Switch 8 MK2 in Programming Mode by selecting Output 1 then hit the Program Button you will see P on the display Step 2 Using PowerCab press Prog/ESC till you get to OPS PROG ACCY CV then hit enter At ADDR 001 hit enter PROGRAM CV NUMBER appears type 548 then hit enter ENTER VALUE appears type 1 then hit enter the hit ESC Now your Switch 8 MK2 will cause the pushbuttons to toggle the switch machine output. HTH Tom

[@larryblaha]

Great information, thanks Larry

[@snowrider1979]

I have atlas powered switches on my layout. would this work with them?

[@TheDCCGuy]

No, you would need their accessory decoder(s) with capacitive discharge units for those. They make the Q-Snap and Snap-It versions for those.

[@l.rod2827]

Great Video, very informative. However I'm going to install toggle switches double pole double throw and I started wiring the switches but feel that the standard wiring is a bit different utilizing the button board. Your demonstration did not show the wiring of a toggle switch and the wiring. I'm thinking I dont need a double pole switch?

[@TheDCCGuy]

If you use the Button Board and Switch8 as I demonstrated then you can use pushbuttons. If you use DC power then yes you will need toggles. This assumes you are using Tortoises or similar switch machines. I am planning a video on using toggles and DC power, I just have to fit it into the list.

[@l.rod2827]

I'm building my first layout and I have a total of 15 turnouts. I'm installing two Switch 8 MK2 along with two button boards for all of the turnouts. My question is will I need to program the output on the second Switch 8 from output 1 to output 9 and so on?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Do you mean do you need to change the address for each output? If that is your question, then it depends on how you plan to control them. If you only plan to use pushbutton or toggle switches with the Button Board as I demonstrated then no you do not need to give each output a different address. However if you want to be able to throw switches with a throttle or computer program the yes each output must have a unique address.

[@l.rod2827]

@@TheDCCGuy Thank you for your reply, yes I plan on using either toggle switches but would like the ability to use the Power Cab also. I changed the output on my second Switch 8 MK2; channel 1 to 9; 2 to 10 and so forth. tested and all worked well. You rock, Thanks Again,

[@keithholt2989]

Just what I need!

[@jonathanboswall4703]

Hi Larry, I’m installing a switch 8 mk2 onto my layout. I’m running a Z21 DCC controller and it’s having error issues and won’t program. Do you know if they are compatible? I’d love some advice please Kind regards Jonathan from Australia

[@TheDCCGuy]

Only but I have no experience with the Z21. You might send Ed Wilson at NCE and see if he has any ideas. Assuming the unit is NMRA shiuld be able to program it. You are aware that it cannot be programmed on the service mode track, only on the mainline track. You should be able to use ops mode programming for changing CV settings. There are specific steps provided on the last page of the instructions.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

Hello Larry, Great Series learned a ton. I was able to get my Switch 8 MK2 to work with Push Buttons and LEDs after programing CV548 to setting one (1). on the Switch 8 MK2. I then went to my second Switch 8 MK2 set CV548 and the Push Buttons do not work. All my testing is done with wire shorter than two feet. IU use twisted pair for the longer lengths. The only difference I found is my second Switch 8 MK2 has the extra terminal block I am wondering if the newer style has something different that I need to set for the pushbuttons. Any thoughts Thanks Tom

[@TheDCCGuy]

If you are using it with DCC connected to it did you program each output on each Switch8 to a different address? That may cause it but I don’t know as I do not have mine connected to DCC.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

@@TheDCCGuy Larry I contacted NCE we did some testing and I found out that the SWITCH 8 MK2 is the problem sending it back to NCE for evaluation and replacement. Thanks

[@thomasgrassi8817]

@@TheDCCGuy Larry After re reading your post here the light bulb went off in my head. Yes I did program each output to my naming convention for my switches. and Yes that was the problem. I did a factory reset of the switch 8 MK2 in Accessory OPS mode set CV8 to = 8 on output 1 after the switch 8 MK2 power cycled I was able to set CV 548 to 1 now the push buttons work . Now I know what to tell NCE support. casue on my other Switch 8 MK2 all the outputs have my naming convention . I may have uncovered a bug in the software. LOL Thanks Tom

[@donaldperkins7158]

I just built a complete control panel using single pushbuttons for each switch. I just tested it and discovered that I need 2 pushbuttons for each switch. I looked at the diagram for the button board and see that the only options given are two push buttons or a spdt toggle switch. Why does your demonstration work with 1 push button and mine doesn't? I can still control the turnouts with my dcc controller.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Read the instructions, page 4. There is a CV you need to program so the unit will flip with a single pushbutton. Change CV548 to a value of 1.I showed how to do that in one of the videos.

[@danielgangemi9091]

Hi DCC Guy! Just found your channel and am loving all the advice you give. Question- how would I go about programming route selection? You have done it in the intro to this as you can see that you can select sidings with the push of one button and all the points change. The power cab allows you to do this too with macros. But how do you get it so you can select routes with the push of a button? Thank you for all the awesome work you are doing!

[@TheDCCGuy]

If you go back to videos #22-26 you’ll see how I build and wire my control panels. I briefly showed the big yard panel with a 6-track yard ladder. That ladder was set up with routes so pushing 1 button will align all the turnouts for the desired track. For that I used Digitrax DS64 accessory decoders. I described how I did that and programmed the DS64 in the March 2019 DCC Corner column in Model Railroader. At some point I will do a video on that process but if you can’t wait see if the article helps. For most of my sidings that don’t require complicated routes I just use NCE Switch8 accessory decoders and the Button Board for pushbutton control. This was also described in those videos and a followup one #75.

[@danielgangemi9091]

The DCC Guy thank you, I did go back and then realised you said it was a ds64 accessory decoder. I missed that because I was looking for how you programmed it, but I shall check it, thank you!

[@steveielasi]

Does 4 ground positions mean you are limited to 4 buttons?

[@TheDCCGuy]

No, the ground is shared so you can stuff as many ground wires in a hole as will fit.

[@georgebell8241]

Can you hook tortoise switch to an atlas snap switch and use the and use the switch 8 with it

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, you can use a Tortoise with an Atlas turnout and operate it with a Switch8. I showed how to do this in my series on building control panels.

[@rayutrup9076]

I like your video but I use Atlas switch(turnout) machine what you show will that work with atlas switch?

[@TheDCCGuy]

The Switch8 is designed for use with Tortoise and similar stall type switch machines. There are other types available that could be used instead but you will have to do some research to find the best one for your situation that support Atlas types and allows pushbutton or toggle switch activation. Check the various Digitrax devices.

[@kennedygauger4680]

Your control panels series is excellent. Can you activate NCE Switch8-controlled turnouts using a Digitrax DT-500 throttle? Thanks, Kennedy

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, once you have programmed the Switch8’s eight outputs to unique addresses and it is connected to track power for the DCC signal, you can access each on your throttle and throw the switch. These are basically just plain old accessory decoders, only there are basically eight on each board.

[@dieseldude6976]

@@TheDCCGuy I will have my turnouts run by buttons and controlled using Arduino microcontrollers. Each button will be placed at the turnout in place of the throw bar requiring the brakeman on the train (or engineer, whoever is operating the locomotive if not in pairs) to throw the turnout. I have a pet peeve about someone running their train and not staying with it (operating from across the room). This is intended to force more phototypical action. That said, there are a couple of locations, where it would be useful to set up a route that was initiated from the throttle. This is where I see the feature as particularly useful. Thanks for your quick reply. Sincerely, Kennedy

[@derekmurton1656]

Thanks

[@skipduld3630]

VERY GOOD DEMO . I HAVE NCE W/ BACHMANN SWITCH'S COULD I USE THEM WITH THOSE ?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Do the turnouts have conventional throwrods at the points with the small hole for a control mechanism like most turnotus? If so then they should work.

[@skipduld3630]

@@TheDCCGuy NO I'LL TRY TO SEND U A PICTURE OF THE TURNOUTS. 1960'S WITH 3 WIRE COMMING OUT. THE MECHANISM IS ON THE SIDE WITH A MANUAL THROW. HOW DO I SEND U A PICTURE AND WHERE WOULD I GET THEM ? AGAIN IF U DON'T MIND

[@TheDCCGuy]

It sounds they have an internal solenoid throw similar to the Atlas version. If that is true then these likely will not work.

[@skipduld3630]

@@TheDCCGuy TKS FOR THE COMEBACK

[@kennedygauger4680]

Larry, this question is probably “a bridge too far,” but can the NCC Switch 8 be used with other DCC throttles, such as a DT500D? The switch8 has some nice features. I would likely use it with DPDT toggle switches for my Tortoise-operated turnouts. It might be handy to control from the DT500D as well.

[@TheDCCGuy]

All accessory decoders I know of that meet NMRA specs can be used on any DCC layout, just like mobile decoders can. I have 4 Switch8s already and a couple more planned for installation on my Digitrax powered layout. That said there may be some features that can only be used on the same brand system. For example Digitrax DS64s can be used as accessory decoders on any layout but some expanded features such as routes, require connection to a Digitrax command station. Switch8 is a dumb accessory decoder in that it cannot be programmed for things like routes, etc. so for those I use the DS64s. And yes you can mix different brand accessory decoders on the same layout.

[@rickxavier5187]

@@TheDCCGuy Hi Larry I hooked up my switch 8 and button board just the same as yours and it does not work with DC power but it does work with DCC power Push button does not work with DC but it does work with DCC power only one way. I can control my Tortoise switch with my NCE Cab. Have i done something wrong cant figure out what went wrong.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Have you watched video #75 yet?

[@rickxavier5187]

@@TheDCCGuy Yes

[@rickxavier5187]

The push button does not work for DC or DCC

[@denniswilson2690]

How would you wire the Control panel if you don't want to use Switch 8 ?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Dennis-that will require yet another episode be added to the control panel series so let’s let the dust settle a little and then I will do that one. It is a relatively easy procedure to supply the DC power and route it through the LEDs to the Tortoises but you can only use toggle switches not pushbuttons.

[@denniswilson2690]

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks for the prompt reply I'll be looking forward to seeing it

[@JohntheTrainman]

Excellent series! I have a Digitrax system, but can I still program the NCE Switch8 with my Digitrax throttle? Or, do I have to use the Digitrax equivalent of the Switch8? Also, does the Switch8 lose its memory if there is a power failure? Thanks, Larry, for such an informative set of videos!

[@blueridgebonsai9155]

JohntheTrainman -you can use any DCC system and program it in ops mode programming. It does not need reprogramming once you have set the addresses (if you want to) and made any other CV setting changes. The manual has instructions for Digitrax and other types of DCC systems. I use mine with a Digitrax DCS240. Like I said a very versatile device.

[@jimnelson1969]

I must have missed something in your setup. I wired mine the same way as yours, I push the button and nothing happens. I switch the wire around and push the button and the switch machine goes the other way. I have the same equipment you have but not the same results. I have watched your video 4 times. I must be missing a step somewhere. Great video though. Thanks

[@TheDCCGuy]

It sounds like it is working for you but the Tortoise is throwing in opposite directions. I’ll take a look back as soon as I get some free time and see if I can figure out what might be causing that. If you need a fast answer you could call Ed Wilson at NCE [phone]. Right now I have to get the next video done and also finish my June DCC Corner column so won’t have time until next week.

[@jimnelson1969]

@@TheDCCGuy It doesn't work with a two wire push button. I must have gotten the wrong parts. Thanks anyway. I enjoy your videos.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Make sure to use momentary contact push buttons and also make sure the board is set for pushbuttons and not toggles.

[@jimnelson1969]

@@TheDCCGuy Found out what I did wrong. I thought I was changing cv548 to 1 and it was not changing states. Works now sir. Thank you so much for your help.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Great, glad to hear you got it working. Programming devices like this can be a little frustrating but once you get it right it is a bit fulfilling.