AC/DC Power for Your Tortoises (209) 

Thank you, you simplify something that normally I over think and frustrated over.

Very good video Larry. I love the way you simplify everything. Easy Peasy.

Very interesting video Larry. I would prefer to power the LEDs through the auxiliary contacts on the Tortoise so that they show it has actually moved. Of course the Tortoise is very reliable and is only likely to jam if something is blocking the switch.

Thank you Larry, that looks a very straight forward way of setting up your Tortoise Lead Motors.

Thanks Larry, Enjoyed it. 🐾🚂 KY.

Great video Larry, again you make easy to wire these switch machines , I am using the Walthers switch machines at the moment but I might need to change to these

Dang Larry..you the Man :-) 1000 thanks for all ya do !

Best explanation I have ever heard, thanks great series.

Excellent video, the way you explain it is clear and very professional. I have learnt a lot.

Excellent video Larry. Thank you.

Great video, thank you. Would enjoy seeing a video on how to wire toggles or push buttons and LED’s in conjunction with the Digitrax DS64’s. Right now I switch my turnouts sending a DCC command to the DS64’s but would like to add a control panel in the future.

Thanks Larry, I think I will have 2 "blocks" each using 9vdc 1amp wall transformers to avoid voltage drop off. And i now realize that powering LEDs at this low voltage does not require protection by a resister. You have been very helpful, and I will stop bugging you for info. for now. But maybe you can setup a layout using my ideas...DCC power (waveform) to the rails from an inexpensive or "used" 5 amp command and control system. Then do not use the command and control portion of the base station.Continue with all the wiring systems you have thoroughly explained for DCC, but install BLUNAMI DECODERS and speakers in locos to have a layout in which the command and control components are very easy to understand using the Apple IOS operating system, wireless Bluetooth and the excellent app for iPad and iPhone. You know how much of a game changer this represents for those who are newbies and want to set up a DCC layout.

The electronics store you list in your video description leads to a page indicating the store is permanently closed -- have tried to post this comment multiple times and someone keeps deleting it. Thank you for all the advice, tips and knowledge you share...I am learning a lot, and building my first model train layout ((14'x5' n-scale).

If you have already cut the legs….The flat side of LED is negative lead. It’s also the larger part inside the LED

Excellent video - Thank you

Great, thank you, very helpful.

Just wanted to update and say that I tried again from scratch and I got it to work, woohoo! This time I didn't use the led, not sure if that had anything to do with it as I tried it with another tortoise switch machine.

Excellent video, I've been looking for it for years and so far it looks very good and simplified, I'm going to put this chapter into practice. I want to see if you have any videos on how to use "The SMAIL™ SLOW MOTION ACTUATOR" in conjunction with the MTH AUI/TIU. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!!!

I use DC power supply and DPDT toggle switches with capacitors and diodes to pulse my solenoid switch machines.

I noticed that you do not have resistors for those LEDs. I am assuming then that the motor and 1.1 amp diodes supply that resistance. It took me a moment to realize that. Thank you for the demonstration. I have a lot of 50's DPDT switches, but will be using each side a SPST, one for the LEDs/power to the Tortoise, and the other a the power to the frog. I will not use the Tortoise switching pads, as I found out that in time (10-12 years) the fingers inside break away or come loose. I know because I am maintaining a 400+ turnout layout powered by Tortoise.

So... I tried this. All the same parts based off the parts list except I used a 12v 2a power supply. The switch machine worked left but not right. I swapped out a switch machine, same result. Swapped out the diodes and the spdt switch, same result. Any advice?

I just flip the toggle 180 degrees on the panel if the polarity is wrong to the tortoise. Much easier than hooking up test leads to figure it out.

Good morning Larry I find your information on model railroad stuff great. For the Tortoise machine to work the way you have it I think I missed a key point. I think you stated to use a AC 12V output supply as you use in the video. I can cross wire a DPDT for DC output , but wanted to cut down wiring chores and use a single switch as you have. Seems easier that way. I am correct on the AC12v output and not the DC output for the way you wired it? Yes or no would be great, thank you again for the great videos keep um up!

Thanks Larry, very timely for me. Have you ever used one of Rapido's Railcrew switch machines?

Great video. It cleared up a lot for me. I used all the parts you suggested but the tortious only works in one direction. If i switch the leads to the machine it goes the other way. Suggestions?

Thanks for this instructional video. I’ve used this process on my layout and it works to power seven Tortoise machines. I do have a problem with my control panel when using green and red LED’s to indicate the position of the turnouts. When the toggle switch is selected for reverse the red LED lights and the green LED goes dark, as it should be. However, when the toggle switch is selected for normal the green LED lights and the red LED stays red, although somewhat dimmer. I’ve tested using two green and two red LED’s and they work correctly. Any idea what could be the cause?

Great instructional video even for a beginner like me. How many switch machines can you power off of that 1 power pack?

Hi Larry, thank for this great explanation, very much appreciated. I'm wondering, are the diodes absolutely necessary? Would it be possible to achieve the same result by placing the LED's at the location of the diodes, so you could omit the diodes all together? Thanks and regards, Paul

Larry, great project and i am looking to follow your instructions. Only question I have is, I can find diffused LEDs, will those work with this, guess they have built in resistors, which I know you said we dont need. I will keep looking for normal LEDs unless the diffused will work, then i will order those. Thoughts?

Larry, Thanks. With this setup I would see having the switches and Leds mounted on my control panel. Also, the AC power source with rectified power both leads going to separate terminal strips at the control panel and wiring as described. To each tortoise I would need to run the "white wire" connected to the diodes and then have a single wire bus to draw the power from the other power wire and from that at each switch connect to the as yet unused power input (1 or 8) on the tortoise. Two questions, is my understanding correct, and will there be an issue with voltage drop due to the length of the bus and white wires going to each tortoise? ? gauge of wire

Not sure if you will see this but had a question. Is the ac part on old dc power packs same as hook up as you just demonstrated on this video? Thanks Robert.

Larry, thanks for a great video. I have an abundant supply of DPDP switches . What changes to the wiring hook up is need to use the DPDT in lieu of the SPDT switches shown in your video?

One thing that people should be aware of - the most common form of color blindness is red / green color blindness, where they appear as slightly different shades of grey. And they say about 8% of males of European descent have that. So I would advise against relying purely on the color of the leds to indicate the position of the turnout...

Hello Larry Just finished your AC power Toggles. I have a situation were I have cross overs and double crossovers were I would need to have a toggle or push button to change the tortises at each switch to change together so the train can travel through with throwing one toggle or push switch.

Larry, very helpful. I am in the middle of the Switch machine desert right now on a new layout. I’m using method one with dpdt switches and I purchased the circuitron wall adapter. One thing you didn’t talk about was daisy chaining the machines together using your method. I’m no electrician and I hate soldering but how would you connect multiple switch machines? I’m using a bus wire for mine, would that also work? Would you need two diodes for each machine I’m guessing right?

one other question....isn't there a need for a 1K resister for each Led to protect it from burning out?

Excellent videos. Would 1 power supply ( AC adapter ) like you are showing, be able to power 20 tortoise machines?

Larry Great info. Will this circuit work with a Cobalt IP machine? I am building two reverse loops using the Cobalt IP digital machine for auto switching. Would like to have a push button or toggle to change it if need to. Thanks

Hello can you do a video on how to just hook up a Tortoise using a mono frog juicer? I have one of those connected to my Peco electro frog. But now Im just trying to figure out which hole I connect to the tortoise for power. I know 1 and 8 but how do I make the conection? Do I go the bus or the track? also does 1 and 8 get connected to one source?

Watched this video a couple times now. would it work to hook up two tortoise machines for a cross over? One spdt switch changes both.

👍👍👍👍

I need to control a train order signal with a tortoise machine. How do I wire it and what type of switch do I use?

One more question what size wire do you recommend for this wiring job

Great videos Larry, very informative and I have learned a lot form you. I have wired my Tortoise machine exactly has you have. Same parts ect. I can only get the machine to throw one way. I have watched this video a dozen times and still can not find what is wrong. Any ideas would be great.

wow, answered most my questions in under fifteen minutes. What if you want to add a third light for yellow?

Is DC power to the Tortoise not easier to wire than your AC power method?

I bring your camcra in closer to your work?

Will it affect anything if I used longer cable runs for some or all of those connections?

I need help. Tried this for days. Can only get machine to go one way. Will not reverse. I’m sure I have the diodes and the leds the right way. Don’t know how I’m not getting this right. Even tried different tortoise machines.

that power supply is it ac/dc adaptor? or Ac/AC?

Then there's no need for extra diodes for each machine, just one set at start of the bus and that's it, or am I incorrect?

Can I cover the connections with heat shrink tubing to minimize electrical shorts

Hi Larry does it matter what led lights I use like a 3mm vs a 5mm

I tried again, purchasing the exact same parts listed in the video and still no result. Is there some hidden detail that is missing in the video?

Demonstrate how to wire a 2 leg bi color led in this configuration

I spent an hour copying everything in this video and it did not work, tried a few more times just to make sure and still nothing. Racking my brain trying to work out where I went wrong, but I think I'll try another way somehow.

I hooked this up exactly as said and it does not work

Couldn't you just connect these to your DCC power bus?

so the tortoise can take an AC input on one and DC on other?

Will one adapter run multiple Tortoise ?

Sorry Larry it doesn't work. It only powers one way. And you failed to mention only an on/on switch will work anyway. A DPDT does.