Toggle switches


Hawkesburytrain

Hawkesburytrain

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,

I need help on selecting toggle switches.
I spend over 30 minutes at an electronic store and came back empty handed.
There was so many types of toggle switch, I didn't know what to buy (that's from being electronically illiterate)
There's:
2 pins to 12+ pins
on-off, on-off-on, on-on
tiny, huge, long, short, some with LED's
etc.

What should I buy to use for switching the turnouts, signalization lights, lights on the fascia and maybe have the switch lit for better view? If you could post a picture or a link, it would be greatly appreciated. I need about 100

Many thanks
 
It depends on what type of turnout you have. On my 4x8 Atlas layout they are older Atlas switch machines. They require a different switch than the newer Tortoise type switch machine.
 
Are we talking about the same thing?
This is what I'm talking about

images


All my turnouts are Peco and I'm using tortoises

Thanks
 
For a Tortoise switch machine you want a SPDT - a single pole switch with two positions (on/on) - this type of switch will have three terminals where the center terminal is the common.

You cannot tell by looking at that switch in your post if it has two positions (on/on) or three (on/off/on).

Switches can also have momentary positions meaning they only stay in the position as long as you hold them there.


Here are some references about switches:

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/switch-basics/poles-and-throws-open-and-closed

http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/What-is-a-single-pole-double-throw-switch-SPDT


Here is one switch that you could use for your Tortoise machines:

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/mts-5/spdt-on-off-on-mini-toggle-switch/1.html


You could also use a DPDT if you wanted an extra circuit - perhaps for controlling incandescent/LED indicators.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/mts-12/dpdt-on-off-on-mini-toggle/1.html
 
Thanks a lot fcwilt
The picture was just an exampl

OK, I now know that I need a DPDT because I need to add lights, that is why I need 3 position therefore 6 pins

I was wondering if some came with LED's incorporated on the switch as I thought I had seen a video with it. The person in the video explained that since the toggle switches were inserted deep in the fascia, the light would guide them to where they where.

Thanks for your help
 
Hi Lloyd,

I've seen illuminated on/off switches where the light/led simply tells you if the switch is on or off.

I have not seen a two position switch where the light/led might be, say, red or green to tell you what position the switch is in.

That doesn't mean they don't make them but I've never encountered them.

Here is one company that usually has good inventory and is easy to deal with:

Toggle:

http://www.mouser.com/Electromechanical/Switches/Toggle-Switches/_/N-5g2j/

Illuminated:

http://www.mouser.com/Electromechanical/Switches/Illuminated-Switches/_/N-cbt4x/
 
I probably should have added that for your use (pretty much any model railroad use), the size doesn't matter. All the available switches will handle the required voltage/current. So pick the size based on cost and which you feel will be easiest to use. I have lots of the miniature switches - the illustrations you used - plus a few larger switches that are used for Master On/Off, Accessory Control, etc.
 
Thanks Kevin,
Just ordered my switches, I think I'll have lots of soldering to do very soon.

Here's a different question:

In those 2 pictures, the yellow represents tortoises.
My question is, can I use ONLY one toggle switch to activate 2 tortoises or do I need ONE toggle switch for every tortoises installed?

View attachment 56945

Therefore one toggle switch here that will activate both tortoises at the same time

View attachment 56946

And two toggle switch here, one will activate the 2 on the left and the other will activate the 2 on the right

Thanks
 
One toggle switch is fine.

What type of switch did you purchase?

One thing that I forgot to mention is that with a SPDT switch you need to use two DC power supplies.

With a DPDT switch you only need one power supply.

With a DPDT you can still have LEDs indicating the position of the turnout:

http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/AN/AN-6000-07.pdf

If, for some reason, you cannot do what is described in the app note AND you only wanted to use one power supply you would need 3PDT switches.
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
this is how I will be wiring my toggle switches with the LED's that will be on the fascia.
Hope that's the way of doing it.
Click to expand...
That is certainly one way of doing it.

Since this is for a tortoise the LEDs could just be put in series with the motor instead of using a separate resistor.
 
Thanks Horseman,

That's a picture of a video, but that's pretty close to what I did.
My LED's already have a resistor on them. Bought 100 12V Pre Wired 3mm. I was going to use them for my buildings, but instead will use them on my fascia
 
You must log in or register to reply here.



Back
Top