Building and Controlling Dwarf Railroad Signals on a Budget

[@ninastrange5269]

So how do I connect this to my Tortoise switch machines? And how do I connect it to my Atlas switch machines (I have both Snap switches and Custom Line switches)?

[@rwissbaum9849]

The answer to your first question is fairly simple; the answer to your second question is more problematic. *To* *connect* *to* *a* *Tortoise* *switch* *machine* The Tortoise provides two independent sets of auxiliary contacts, and you may use either set. One set uses terminals 4, 3, and 2 (with 4 as the common) and the other set uses terminals 5, 6, and 7 (with 5 as the common). The Tortoise terminals are perfectly symmetrical, so you can number the terminals from the left edge or the right edge - it doesn't matter. You would connect the common Tortoise terminal (either 4 or 5) to the switch machine common on the PCB, then connect the other two terminals (2 and 3 if you're using 4; or 6 and 7 if you're using 5) to the two switch machine terminals on the PCB. There's no way to tell in advance which connects where, but there's only two possible ways, so trial and error is not too difficult. I use 4 wire telephone cable to connect the PCB to the Tortoise (I just cut the yellow wire - it's not used). You can solder the wires direct to the Tortoise terminals, but I prefer to use snap-on terminal connectors. I use Accu-Lite connectors, which require soldering - they cost about $3 to $4 each. Alternately, you can get the Accu-Lite SNAPS connectors with screw terminals (no soldering required) for about $6 - $7 each. Circuitron offers the ZIPZ connector which snaps on to the Tortoise terminal card and provides screw terminals for individual connections - they cost about $5 - $6 each. Now for your second question: *Atlas* *switch* *machines* *do* *not* *provide* *any* *auxiliary* *contacts* Therefore, automatic control of signals is not possible with Atlas machines, Further, actuating an Atlas switch machine requires momentary current, while the signals require constant current, so you can't connect the switch machine and the signal to a common switch. For Atlas machines, I fear your best bet is to rely on manual control of the signal, and you'll have to develop the habit of moving the turnout and switching the signal at the same time. There are a lot of videos out there describing this manual control; I provided a link to one of them in the video description. If you want to provide manual control of the PCB I have shown in this video, you simply need an SPDT switch mounted next to your switch machine control button. Wire the center SPDT switch contact to the common on the PCB, and wire the contacts on either end to the other two contacts. Find the SPDT switch here: www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-AC125V-Terminals-Position-Toggle/dp/B079JBF815/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2I3OVM0DLT8VS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JJI7E7yy7yzQEuOuVms-nL0m1NywsYj-6NRsfDylNKeVb0YW_qKaRYhHC74nuJpM8FDZ6U2tfGodm4bmjsWVh4ukB0m1vdd58Vu-QSvZnl_kldIvREprTxdl1YCip-D-r4u9yRdGbxeDZaXwebFwHgubhGya3Qis5G5jPUS1FjqcXDV1wwLpehLeTsf8vV1lUu5jM6g5u7JnMCP-Fw7xf5RK3KeY-PK4tzwGvtlnVCE.aM1kxNsnobnJSG07TV6t7sVsZ-PLAixKDL_VSim2ijM&dib_tag=se&keywords=spdt&qid=1729520253&sprefix=spdt%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-3 *There* *is* *a* *way* *to* *provide* *turnout* *control* *and* *automated* *signal* *control* *with* *a* *single* *button* but it requires an Arduino and perhaps a motor shield or some other auxiliary device to control the switch machine.

[@ninastrange5269]

@@rwissbaum9849 Okay. I think i've wrapped my head around all that information. Thanks!