Point motor ( Part one )

[Nascarrrrrrfan]

Does the motor work for all points or just the one its rigged to?

[ay76]

@Nascarrrrrrfan Think it'll work with numerous brands of points, that are similar to the one seen in this video.

[trainman1986]

I recently started using these on my turnouts, I have two of them installed and tested but not in service yet on my layout, seems they are a lot easier to install under the table than the Atlas Switch Machine, these also have a stronger throw rod.

[ay76]

@trainman1986 Quite an old design these, but certainly proven simple bit of kit.

[trainman1986]

@ay76 Question about these machines, can you pass continuous current through them or are they pulse current only. I am used to the Atlas Machines where they require only a pulse of current, but I thought I read somewhere that these Peco Machines can handle continuous current? Thanks

[ay76]

@trainman1986 As far as i know, it's pulse. Think continuous would burn them out.

[trainman1986]

@ay76 Yeah I sort of figured this too, I don't recall seeing a caution about that in the instructions but I will not test that theory. They seem to work very well on the pulse current, I use a capacitor discharge supply for them and they never seem to fail.

[ay76]

@trainman1986 On DC i was using something similar, a CDU from Gaugemaster. Now on dcc the points decoders i use, have the CDU built in.

[chefblanc]

me again.. I cant get these type of motors to work with the Dynamis [only push one way]. The peco pl-11s are fine. good job i have a small layout with few points as all the Hornby motors ive stored in Loft are useless!

[ay76]

@chefblanc If the peco ones are working fine, then i'd stick to using them or ones by SEEP. Had one my self a pain to set up. In the end it was down to alignment up with the point it's self.

[paulknowles100]

hi do u kno where u can buy wire from i think i mite need a lot of it with the layout ill be doing ive seen u have a lot of it paul

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Try the likes of Maplins, screwfix??, any electrical wholesaler, model shops, or electronic's companies, etc.

[paulknowles100]

hi ive tryed all that u said and it seems like it dont like peco points tryed it on a hornby point and it works fine cheers 4 ur help when u next doing a update on ur layout cheers paul

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Your welcome. This week for next one. Cheers.

[paulknowles100]

hi i tryed what u said and still no joy at all any more idears 

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 I'd now try removing the point motor & refitting & re aline it with the points. On that dwell time bang it up to around 0.8 secs ( think that's about the max for these point motor's). Failing that try another point motor or different make of point motor. Or replace the point it's self.

[paulknowles100]

hi is that the spring on the plastic base witch the point sits on cheers paul

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Yes it is. On Peco points easy to remove & replace.

[paulknowles100]

hi i tryed what u said still no joy when the point goes to 1 said it trys to go to the other side but it just does not go back am not sure u got any idears cheers

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Okay, try removing the center spring on the point it's self (if using peco track). Only thing to watch doing that, is that the switch rail might not quite line up with the outer rails.

[paulknowles100]

ok ill try it thanks 4 the help cheers paul

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Cool, keep me posted on how you get on. Kind regards.

[paulknowles100]

hi can u use this point with a hornby points and accessory decoder its just ive tryed and it dont seem to have that much of a kick to it or is it something iam doing wrong cheers paul

[ay76]

@paulknowles100 Yes, you can use it with the Hornby System. Try altering the dwell time (see the instruction sheet with the Hornby points decoder). Also the point motor may need re-alineing. The Deocder comes with a CDU built in, so when you 1st switch the system on, give it a few mins to bang some charge into the CDU, before using.

[stevenbusadl]

hi, i have a dcc layout, and just wondering if the peco point motors are safe to run on dc, rather than the recommended ac in the instructions? cheers

[ay76]

@stevenbusadl I've had no probs with them on DCC, but if unsure you could run them on a separate AC supply.

[stevenbusadl]

@ay76 yeah, AC doesnt have the kick to work the solenoid, Is it safe to use DC (direct current) on the solenoid, as it does have the kick

[ay76]

@stevenbusadl In that case recommend the Gaugemaster CDU  Capacitor Discharge Unit. It'll give the kick that your point motor needs. Visit Gaugemaster's uk website for more details.

[ay76]

@ilchyhammer Depends on which type of point motor you go for. Google Hornby Peco point motor. Cheers.

[jmsschooner]

how do u get the track so evenly straight

[ay76]

@jmsschooner Using a straight edge, butt the track up to it. Also use tracksetta templates & peco rail gauge. Cheers.

[TasRailwayfan]

Hey thanks great vid by the way and also one more thing which is the best price because im on bit of a budget and do u know any good websites where i could buy them that will ship to australia?

[ay76]

@TasRailwayfan Have a browse on the internet of UK model shops, try the likes of Hatton's of Liverpool. Cheers.

[TasRailwayfan]

Hey i recently bought the hornby track packs that make a layout and was thinking of wiring up the points and was wondering which is the best to use because i know peco make better point motors but i thought perhaps using hornby motors with hornby products would be better. I also want to know what isolater switches do because i am a beginner at this sort of thing and dont know exactly what everything means. Thanks

[ay76]

Hornby & Peco point motors work well with each others products. As for the best point motor, there is many types out on the market, the likes of Tortoise, Seep are very good. So with the Hornby & Peco type, recommend both. If your on DC control, then recommend a Gauagemaster CDU unit to improve point motor performance. Isolator switches are used with isolating sectionsof track i.e: to isolate the power ( turn power off ) on a section of track, like in a loco depot. Cheers.

[MrJasper1997]

hi im new to this and planning to setup a large DCC layout just wanted to ask wht does hornby power track do.plz help thks!

[ay76]

Hi & welcome to the hobby. The power track really is just a section of track with built in power clip. This you just connect two wires which in turn connect to the controller / transformer. Cheers.

[dan89876]

I have the DCC select wich i recently bought and i also have the analouge controll and powering 1 point motor with it. How many points would you say you could operate with it? Thank you

[ay76]

With the analogue fit a CDU (from gaugemaster). I had one on the last layout, i had 16 points powered & all worked fine. With the select around 40 point motors. Cheers.

[oliverj8]

Nice 5*****. Do the standard Hornby point motors have the wires already attached? cheers

[ay76]

Yes they come with wires already attached. The one you see had the remains of the wires from the last layout it was on. Cheers.

[Bondy1980]

good work

[ay76]

Thank you, cheers.

[jaannetts16]

5* great vid

[ay76]

Many thanks, cheers.

[Doubledig]

Very helpful, thanks mate!

[ay76]

Hope it's of some help, cheers.

[MrAnnonumous]

does this point motor also work on DC i will be going DCC hopefully on 2 tracks but not a the moment. if so what company makes them thanks. great tips 5*

[ay76]

Yes it works on both DCC & DC. Peco is the maker of this one, but Hornby have a similar one too.Many thanks.

[UBIQUEROL]

Peco make better points than hornby,

a question,

with point motors,

where do you wire them up to?

thanks

UBIQUEROL

[ay76]

All the points on this layout are Peco Electrofrog. On this layout as it's DCC the point motors are wired up to the Hornby DCC Digital points decoders (each one will work four point motors). Otherwise it's the old method of wire up to the point switch lever's & then back to the controller.

Cheers.

[UBIQUEROL]

Ah i see,

thankyou very much,

how would you suggest i build a base board for a model railway?

i was thinking of a timber frame with a plywood top

[thewizard99]

Peco are a little better i think, they have connectors unlike the hornby one, which have a tendancy not to be soldered properly, but least with peco you can diconnect them with out having to unwire everything else.