Transcript Controlling Tortoise Machines with Momentary Contacts and a Diode-Matrix By Jerry Hoverson, MMR 15 November 2008

Controlling Tortoise Machines
with Momentary Contacts
and a Diode-Matrix
By
Jerry Hoverson, MMR
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Why the Tortoise switch machine motor in the first place
• Easy to install
• Reliable
• Rugged
• Provides slow, quit movement of points
• Provides constant pressure to hold points against stock rail
• Provides 2 sets of contact points
• Frog polarity control
• Panel indicator lights
• Switch indicator signals
• Has become the hobby standard for remote control of
turnouts
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
The biggest disadvantage of the Tortoise switch machine motor is
that it requires a constant, reversible 9-12 VDC power source.
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
So what happens if you try to control that turnout from more then
one control panel with that constant power source?
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Enter the 556 circuit!
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Where you can control the Tortoise with MOMENTARY devices
Momentary
DT Center Off
Toggle Switch
Momentary
Pushbuttons
-S
8 R 1
556
15 November 2008
+
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Here’s the circuit diagram for those who just have to have one.
+ 12 VDC
Reset
R1
2.2K
300
ohm
14
13
8
12
IC1
LM556-A
9
D2
R2
10K
Set
Tortoise
R3
10K
1
2
1
D1
IC1
LM556-B
6
5
7
+
300
ohm
C1
10uf
- 12 VDC
15 November 2008
8
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
OK, lets look at how we would install this
on a simple track arrangement.
Track A
Track B
Track C
Track D
MAINLINE
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
One method is to mount the 556 circuits in one “master” panel
and then connect additional “slave” panels to the master.
Slave Control Panel
Master Control Panel
-S
8 R 1
556
15 November 2008
+
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
What’s good and what’s bad about this method of installing?
• PROS
• 556 Circuit is accessible inside the control panel not
under the layout
• Multiple circuits can be ganged together
• Single board
• Single power connection with Positive and
Negative 12 VDC buses
• Only 2 wires going from main panel to Tortoise
• CONS
• Takes up real estate inside the control panel
• Depending on other items may be difficult to get to
connectors
• Large number of wires going between each panel
• Hard to add another tortoise once complete
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Here’s a “ganged” set of 556 circuits in a control panel.
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Let’s look at a general setup using a “master” panel.
2-Wire from Master Panel
(1 & 8) for Tortoise movement
Tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoise
Slave
16-Wire from Slave to Master
(S & R) for control of each circuit
(1 & 8) for LED indicators for each circuit
Master
556
556 556 556
2-Wire (+ & -) 12 VDC
12 VDC
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Another method is to mount individual circuits
near each Tortoise Machine
Control Panel B
Control Panel A
-S
8 R 1
556
15 November 2008
+
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Why use this method of installation?
• PROS
• Frees up space inside the control panel
• Multiple circuits can be ganged together if
tortoises are close together (i.e. a yard ladder)
• No massive bundle of wires between panels
• Simple to add another circuit between panels
• CONS
• Takes 4 wires from each panel to the tortoise
• Takes 2 wires to supply power to each circuit
• Set up as a bus and daisy chained
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Here’s an individual circuit mounted near the Tortoise Machine
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Let’s look at a general setup using the individual 556 circuits
mounted at the tortoises
4-Wire from Slave
4-Wire from Master
(S & R) for control
(1 & 8) for LED indicators
(S & R) for control
(1 & 8) for LED indicators
556
556
556
556
Slave
Master
2-Wire (+ & -) power bus
12 VDC
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Now let’s take this a step further and implement a Diode-Matrix
to control several turnouts with a single button.
Otherwise known as “route control”.
A
B
MAINLINE
15 November 2008
Track A
Track B
C
Track C
D
Track D
E
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
To implement a Diode-Matrix you simply wire each button to an
input on the matrix and the outputs of the matrix to the “S” & “R”
connections on each 556 circuit
We’ll start by
numbering each
turnout
Then we need
to determine
which direction
is Set “S” or the
default position
If we push button “A” then 1=R, 2=S, 3=S, 4=S
The unmarked
direction is then the
“R” or Reset
position
3
2
1
A
4
S
B
S
C
S
D
S
Mainline
E
If we push button “E” then 1=S & we don’t care about the others
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Let’s take a few minutes and set up our Diode-Matrix
1
A
B
C
D
E
4
1
15 November 2008
2
3
4
S R S R S R S R
Remember,
if we push Button
if we push
“B” Button “A”
“C”
“D”
“E”
• 1 goes to “R”
“S”
• 2 goes
we don’t
to “S”
“R”
care
• 3 goes
we don’t
to “S”
“R”
care
• 4 goes
we don’t
to “S”
“R”
care
R
2
S
S
3
S
R
R
S
A
R
B
C
D
E
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
So let’s wire up the Diode-Matrix with the 556 Circuits
Connect the buttons
and the 556 circuits
to ground
-
556 #1
S 8 R 1
Connect the buttons
to the matrix inputs
A
B
C
D
E
-
+
1
556 #2
S 8 R 1
2
+
-
3
556 #3
S 8 R 1
+
4
S R S R S R S R
-
556 #4
S 8 R 1
+
Connect matrix
outputs to the 556
circuits
A
B
C
D
E
And last connect the “1” & “8” outputs on the 556s to the tortoise machines
15 November 2008
Connect the 556
circuits to + 12VDC
+ 12 VDC
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
OK, now that you’ve seen all the wonderful things a 556 circuit
can do for you, what does it consist of and what does it cost?
Parts List
Part
Nominclature
2 x 2.375 circuit board
14-pin solder IC socket
15 November 2008
C1
10uf Electrolitic Capacitor
D1
"Set" Red LED
D2
"Reset" Red LED
IC1
LM556
R1
2.2K Resistor
R2
"Set" 10K Resistor
R3
"Reset" 10K Resistor
S1
3-Socket Connector "+", "1", "R"
S2
3-Socket Connector "8", "S", "-"
Price
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
0.59
0.20
0.16
0.17
0.17
0.89
0.12
0.12
0.12
0.39
0.39
3.32
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Here is what individual 556 circuits for mounting near the
Tortoises looks like
Component Side
A B C D E F G H I J K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
+
1
R
8
S
--
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o o o o o
oD1o o oD2o
o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
R1
o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
14 o
1
13 o
2
12 o
3
4 IC1 11 o
10 o
5
9 o
6
7
8 o
o o o o o
o o o o o
oC1o o o R2
o
o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
A B C D E F G H
15 November 2008
I
J K
Solder Side
R Q P O N M L K J I
L M N O P Q R
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o R3
o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
L M N O P Q R
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
R3
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
H G F E D C B A
o o o o o o
o oD2o o oD1o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o
o o o R1
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o 14 o o 1
o o 13 o o 2
o o 12 o o 3
o o 11 oIC1o 4
o o 10 o o 5
o o 9 o o 6
o o 8 o o 7
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o R2o o o oC1o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
R Q P O N M L K
J
I
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
H G F E D C B A
+
1
R
8
S
--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
• The 556 circuit used in this presentation was developed by Rob Paisley
• Rob has published a lot of model railroad circuits, for example:
• Stall motor turnout controls like this one (several variations exist)
• Automatic grade crossing controls
• Traffic light control
• Infrared detectors
• Block occupancy detectors
• His web site: http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#index
If you are interested in building this circuit and trying it out there are
handouts available that include:
• Electrical diagram
• Parts list
• Parts layout diagrams
• Detailed step by step instructions on building the circuit
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
15 November 2008
Controlling Tortoise Machines
With Momentary Contacts
Component Side
A B C D E F G H I J K
1
o o o o o
2
o o o o o3
o o o o o
4
o o o o o o o o
5
o o o o o o o o
6
o o o o o o o o
7 + o o o o o o o o
8
o o o o o o o o
9 1 o o o o o o o o1
10
o o o o o o o o2
11 R o o o o o o o o3
12
o o o o o o o o4
8
13
o o o o o o o o5
14
o o o o o o o o6
15 S o o o o o o o o7
16
o o o o o o o o
17 - o o o o o o o o
18
o o o o o o o -o
19
o o o o o o o o
20
o o o o o o o o
21
o o o o o
22
o o o o o
23
o o o o o
A B C D E F G H
15 November 2008
o
o
+
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o+
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
I
J K
556
o
o+
o
o
o
o
o
o
14
o
13
o
12
o
11
o
10
o
9o
8o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Solder Side
R Q P O N M L K J I
L M N O P Q R
o
oo
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
L M N O P Q R
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
14o
13o
12o
11o
10o
9o
8o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
R Q P O N M L K
J
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
H G F E D C B A
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o1
o2
o3
o4
o5
o6
o7
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
I
H G F E D C B A
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23