Switch activation Rods

[Royalhaw]

I have been researching the best type of switches to use for my layout. I like the Peco switches because of the positive spring control but I have an issue with the distance away from the switch the motor will be. The switch would be about 3" above the location of the switch motor. I then looked at the Kato switch operation and found that the switch had the motor nicely hidden just under the track but the switches were not cheep ($25.00) plus converter ($6.00) and then a controler switch ($6.00) about $37.00 per switch and I need at least 12. Peco SLE 396 (a #4L) was only $15.00 but no motor. I could get many motors but the "throw" would be about 2" or 3". That would loose its strenght to throw the switch. Any comments.... Any help....

 

[RW&C]

You can put a switch motor anywhere if you build a good enough linkage. Fix a dowel, rod, whatever to the switch, then run it (horizontal) to the fascia (you can just use a knob here if you want, without a machine) or a switch machine hidden somewhere else. If you make a vertical bit from the rod to the switch, hook that into the horizontal bit, you can hook it into pretty much any switch machine below the table.