Mikes N gauge Model Railway Part 5 Fitting Locomotech Motorizing Kit to a Peco Turntable

[@phillipg1588]

Yay got my Locomotech motor shipped to Sydney Australia from UK. Very pleased and only took 10 days to get here. Installation went nicely and it runs super super smooth. Absolutely no jerkiness at all. The only thing I'd like to do is program the decoder (I have NCE Powercab), so that when I stop the power it doesn't continue for a half a second. I know this suits loco's but not for turntable operation. Seriously has to be THE BEST Peco turntable motor out there!!

[@mscangliarail]

Glad you are pleased with it Regards Mike

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks Philip that makes sense will bear it in mind

[@richardswallow1967]

Thank goodness found your site on locomotech motor, been looking for ages.Your video has been so helpful, I've just purchased one awaiting delivery from uk.I'm using Railmaster so hopefully fingers crossed it will happen.Many thanks,Richard from Western Australia.

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks Richard I have tried other motors but they where to noisy I saw this one and it was so quite so i bought it and as i was so pleased with it thought i would do the video glad it was helpful to you Regards Mike

[@quarryjunction-1969]

Great video thanks for easy step by step.

[@mscangliarail]

Appreciate your comments hope it helped you Mike

[@phillipg1588]

Looks good! My Peco NB-55 (N scale) turntable had lots of issues with track power connectivity that in the end I gave up with it and simply connected the two bridge rails directly to my DCC bus via a DPDT switch in order to reverse the polarity. I never lose sound momentarily as the bridge rotates across the gap in the brass split ring. The Locomotech motor seems quiet and does the job well.

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks for your comment and information regarding DPDT switch Philip I will give it a try regards Mike

[@phillipg1588]

@@mscangliarailJust remember that the Peco brass Split ring negates the need for any reverse polarity switch when the turntable rotates 180 degrees. It's actually a good design sort of, EXCEPT my bridge rails could never get a nice continuous helping of power, and it was the connectivity of the two spring loaded pins from beneath both rails not making good contact with the brass split ring below them in the turntable well. It was always a hit and miss affair. So fed up in the end, I removed the split brass rings completely and both spring loaded pins from under both rails and fed my own power wires from my DCC bus to beneath the rails on the bridge. The result - brilliant uninterrupted power on the turntable bridge that now obviously requires the switch to reverse the polarity prior to driving the loco off.

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi Mike, decoder arrived today, tomorrow installation day, fingers crossed. Also purchased decoder wire, expensive way of doing it , but not a lot of call for this wire down the southwest!

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks for the heads up had a look at and will alter my turntable cheers

[@howarth004]

Well done with this project Mike , wish I had room for one ..Dave

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks Dave yes its nice to be able to turn the steam loco's

[@richardswallow1967]

Thanks for advice, turned the turntable 90 degrees, and I got it working😀

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard glad you got your turntable working hope you are well Mike

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi Mike, I have not done anything yet with Railmaster, I did email Brian, and he kindly replied giving me how to ....I've had problem with one Peco point and cobalt motor. Had quite a few replies on Hornby Forums. Locos shorted on one this one particular point. I removed motor and tried on my sample board I made earlier in the piece. Nothing wrong with motor, so ripped out point now waiting for a delivery from Hattons, along with scenic material.Yep the Easter weather has been great , even down here in Dunsborough...As soon as I get round to it I will let you know outcome of turntable and Railmaster.Happy modelling, wait to see more of your videos, cheers Richard.

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard hope you get your point problem fixed hopefully the weather is getting warmer in the uk and i will be able to get some more work done on the layout and video it

[@ChapelEndJunctionUK]

nice fix with the turntable , I think a few cut the power part way round as mine does . I switch the sound off on the turntable .......Peter

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks very much Peter for your comment I have only a couple of sound locos so it's not to much of a problem just thought I would point it out so people are aware Regards Mike

[@richardswallow1967]

Motor arrived today, I ordered the indexing model, instructions rather daunting. I'm setting it up to run by Railmaster, just touch screen to move turntable to the bay chosen. Hornby decoder should arrive tomorrow from a hobby shop in Perth. We'll see what happens, might need more guidance from locomotech!Richard

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard i am sure if you get stuck Locomotech will help you out looking forward to seeing the results I would have liked indexing but they do not do it for N gauge Mike

[@spraymanandy1963]

Great information. I'm just a little confused about polarity. Some say you need an autoreverse for polarity, and some don't. I see you didn't use one. Would a stay alive help with sound not cutting out for a split second?

[@mscangliarail]

Thanks for your comment if you look down the comments people who replied one suggested fitting a thin shim under the contacts and a auto reverser I did not try this as I have only a couple of sound locos Mike

[@thedoctor6610]

I have 00 Layout would like to have a turntable But only thing that has put me off of have one is the noise from the motor wear did you get the motor .I would like to get one for a 00 turntable

[@jimbobwhale]

Would it be possible to solder some fine wire on the ring to complete the circle to prevent the cut out?

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Jim thanks for your interest look at Mo Junction video 26 he shows you what to do Mike

[@mscangliarail]

sorry should read Milton Mo Jct video 26

[@markthornton1965]

hi Mike if you fit a thin brass washer/ shim over the contact area where the turntable pickups slide it will give you a continual circuit, however if you do this you will also need to install an auto reverse otherwise you will create a short. How much did the motor kit cost and where did it come from. I was going to use a 12v cordless drill and veryable speed control to set mine up

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Martin thanks for the information regarding the washer/shim .Could i use a dual frog juicer for the auto reverse? .LOCOMOTECH are the manufactures look on there web site and all the information on price ect is there . I am very pleased with the motor it is smooth and very quite

[@richardswallow1967]

I disregarded index as trying to operate dcc through Railmaster, nothing going, so frustrating. Using a R8249 decoder, states cannot find or register. Been a few hours now , time to pack and rethink. It does say register on programme track!Richard

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard sorry to here your having problems setting up your turntable i am not familiar with Railmaster suggest having a word with them or Locomotec Mike

[@grahamthompson6406]

Hi just watching your video, I too am installing this turntable Please tell me because I couldn’t hear very well is the turntable noisy, if not I think I will buy the same motor ..Graham

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Graham thanks for watching my video.You did not hear a lot of sound as the motor is very quiet like you I asked various people and this one was the quietest .Hope that helps you Regards Mike

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi mike,Checked out power to turntable ok, loco runs on turntable,power to decoder ok, nothing coming out from decoder, totally flummoxed. No power recognised from decoder.Maybe it's the decoder, any ideas.Richard

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi mike,Bitting the bullet , purchasing a decoder screw in type from DCC Concepts, expensive, but got to give it ago.See what happens next!Richard

[@fatheradolf]

Can anyone tell me how far the motor extended below the railhead of the turntable. My layout design has the turntable above a hidden track in a tunnel, and I wonder if it will fit. Thanks.

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Philip my Locomotech Motorizing Kit extends 4.75 inches from the bottom of the turntable base .Hope this helps .

[@richardswallow1967]

No one near, only DCC Concept, but that's a 3 hour drive away.I've actually emailed them for a compatible decoder, see what they say today hopefully.Thanks Richard

[@FO_Fai]

What decoder did you use?

[@mscangliarail]

Hi I used a digitrax decoder with leads and just programmed it like you would your locos make sure your locos are isolated or they will have the turntable address.Hope this helps Mike

[@FO_Fai]

mscangliarail. Thanks for the reply I assumed you only used the necessary wires in the decoder and sniped the non required ones?

[@mscangliarail]

Yes you only need four wire two to the track and two to the motor if you look on my video it will show you this hope this helps you Mike

[@FO_Fai]

mscangliarail Would I be able to use a hornby decoder when doing this?

[@stevemarron]

Hi Mike - thanks for this tutorial. I used the "new" DC Peco turntable motor and was disapponted with the result, but part of the issue were the moulded turntable "wheels" snagging on the floor of the pit making the whole thing so jerky that it would actually derail the loco. Did you have any issues with that? Your video seems to show that your rotation is perfectly smooth. If that's the case I'll do this over again with a new turntable and the Locomotech kit and enable DCC - much more convenient for me anyway.

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Steve thanks for your interest in my tutorial .I had the same problem as you with some of the turntable motors ,that is why I fitted the Locomotech Kit after watching there Data sheets. Its now over two years since i fitted it and still going well .Hope this helps let me know how you get on Regards Mike

[@stevemarron]

@@mscangliarail Hi Mike - thanks for the quick reply. I'll get a new PECO turntable (my US hobby supplier has them in stock) so I have it ready to go. The Locomotech kits are on back-order so I'll get one when they're back in production and in stock. Thanks again for the advice.

[@richardswallow1967]

Brian Hughes you tube is the one I've watched on Railmaster , and David Hyde after corresponding with him put a wiring diagram on his Facebook page, very good. I followed his diagram, so still think the decoder is stuffed. I know you can purchase a tester for decoders, rather expensive.

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi mike, turntable works with locomotech motor, operation through Hornby Elite. The problem I have is when moving turntable to a siding position, drive loco off onto siding, I get a short . Have you any ideas , one guy suggested use a change polarity module, not moving on this until I know it will work. Richard

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard looks like the polarity is wrong on the turntable turn the whole table through 90 degrees and the try it again hope this works Regards Mike

[@richardswallow1967]

Hi Mike, Do you mean 180?

[@mscangliarail]

@@richardswallow1967 Hi Richard how are you getting on with the turntable problem Mike

[@richardswallow1967]

Haven't tried yet Mike, project at the moment is re wiring under baseboards. Wasn't happy as first attempt although worked , wiring underneath was a bit of a birds nest. Having to make it neater and more uniform. Will let you know how I go. Thanks Richard

[@mscangliarail]

Richard Swallow ok Regards Mike

[@alancarr6388]

Fit a capacitor to the bridge should keep sound on Tim

[@mscangliarail]

thanks for that what size capacitor and how and where to fit it ?

[@richardswallow1967]

Got the bugger working, cannot believe the hassle I've had, time for a beer!Just got to figure out to connect to Railmaster, think that's another day.

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard how have you got on programming it it to the Railmaster Happy Easter it has rained for a week in East Anglia we need some of your sun .

[@richardswallow1967]

Tried using my NCE powercab , no joy , think it maybe decoder problem. Going back to using index seperate 16 v ac supply, not buying another decoder , too expensive here, $50 !

[@mscangliarail]

Hi Richard sorry you are still having problems is there know one near you to test the decoder ? can you programme the turntable with out the indexing with your power cab.?As i said before i have not used Ralimaster i have had a look on KZbin but the only one refers to setting the Hornby Turntable Regards Mike

[@mscangliarail]

Oops Yes Richard 180

[@mscangliarail]

Here is the web site hope this help Locomotech: Motorizing Kits for Peco 00, 0n30, N Gauge and H0m Turntables www.locomotech.com