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Right now I am using the atlas switch controllers where you slide over a push down. I wanted to make a very basic cp with toggle switches. Is it possible to just move the three wires over to the prongs and it worked? I looked at some pics at nmra.com but i diidnt see where power would tie in? Also what is the control blocks the article keeps talking about?
If you go to toggles, there are two ways I know it can be done. The first choice is to use SPDT (Center off - Momentary) toggles. The Momentary is absolutely critical, the Atlas switch machines only need a short "burst" of current. With a normal SPDT switch that continues to pass current as long as it's thrown, you will will immediately burn out your switch machines.
The other way I have heard of actually allows use of a normal SPDT toggle, but has a momentary contact pushbutton wired in between the toggle and the switch machine. It required two motions to throw a switch, move the toggle and then push the button. The nice thing is the position of the toggle becomes a indicator of where the turnout is. The down side is more cost for switches and more wiring. Effectively, this is what the original Atlas slide switches do.
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