Turnout control

[Matt S]

I have been using walthers turnout machines for a while now. For the cost, they are unbelievably powerful, I wont use anything other than them anymore. I wont go into the sales pitch, but instead I have some questions for those of you that may be a little more electronically inclined. While these machines work perfect, the physical button options they offer are not that great. I have until this point just controlled them via the throttle or via JMRI panels. I would like to add buttons on the fascia to control instead.

From what I have read, they offer both momentary and always connected button options. I would like also have the button lit up, which is where I think it gets a little more complicated. I ran across these a while back and really want to use them: https://www.berretthillshop.com/stor...i-cup-toggles/ As I searched around a bit, it looks like I need an adaptor to make them work: https://www.berretthillshop.com/stor...ystem-adapter/ It says they are not currently available and to contact them. Unfortunately I have tried many times and they never answer my emails.

Anyone have any idea is another button of similar function exists that would work with these turnout machines? Anyone else use walthers machines and what did you use? Not sure where to go next....

[N Scale Brad]

Matt, I am not familiar with the Walthers machines. Are they stall motor or solenoid ? Sounds like you are controlling them from a DCC systems stationary decoder. Does your stationary decoder have any programmable inputs ?

[Matt S]

The walthers machines have dcc onboard so controlling them directly. They also have the ability to have push buttons. More info here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/aws.walther...rol+Manual.pdf

[N Scale Brad]

Thanks Matt, Took a look at that instruction book. It looks like either ON/OFF or momentary switches can be used with this machine. I would suggest experimenting with one on the work bench with various switches to see what works best for you. For LED indicators, it appears that there are outputs for indicators. What I have also done in the past is to put a bi-polar LED in series with the motor lead giving a different color depending on turnout position. If using LED's you must have a current limiting resistor in series.

I have seen people make something similar to the Barret Hill product. They used a recessed closet door (sliding type) handle.

Never knew about these Walthers machines. I've been familiar with Peco, Tortoise, and more recently MP5.

[Matt S]

Thanks Brad! I had ok luck with the MP5s. My problem with them, they stopped making the board that controlled a bunch at a time. (DCC). Thats when I found the walthers one. Price point and features were too good to pass up. Maybe I am trying to over complicate this and should just use the JMRI panel.

[Russ C]

Maybe do 1 JMRI panel at a non vital location and see if it's more to your liking. Then you can compare both and go from there.
There's a few things you'd have to consider, like ease (or otherwise) of conversion and time taken to change over, reliability, etc.

[N Scale Brad]

Yup, they draw more current then a Tortoise and the DS64 I was using could not drive them. I've heard that by programming the DS64 differently they can work together but in my case I had MP5's and Tortoises on the same circuit so I just built my own controls.

[john_plsn]

I wonder if you could utilize an NCE auxiliary input unit just for the buttons and panel lights?

I have no experience with them, but it looks applicable.