Tortoise slow-motion AND Atlas double solenoid switch
I had asked almost a year ago if anyone knew of a circuit, that would allow a Tortoise under-table switch and Atlas double solenoid switch operate together. I never had any replies and kept on looking on the Internet for a solution.
Last week, while browsing I FINALLY found an answer. It is a circuit designed to operate a double-solenoid point switch, with the stored energy from an electronic capacitor. The name of the website is
www.talkingelectronics.com and the name of the electronics kit is "CDU2." After emailing the company I was sent a definitive solution to my problem. One side of my new second reverse track, passed over a lower track making it impossible to mount a under-table switch.
If I wanted separate momentary push button switches, I could have use one kit for both sides of the solenoid. Because I wanted both turnouts to operate from one switch, I was required to use two kits (one for each "half" of the solenoid).
In addition to these two CDU2 circuits, I purchased a DP/DT relay to power the "frog" of the Atlas switch. I also needed a 4P/DT switch to operate both turnouts; one half of the switch, 2 poles, for the Tortoise and the remaining two for the Atlas.
After building both kits, I installed the system and it works great! Prior to this circuit the double-solenoids never closer with a snap. After this circuit was installed, it sounds more like a shot is being fired from a gun!
Photo 1 is the DP/DT relay to power the Atlas snap switch "frog." Photo 2 bottom/center is the new 4P/DT toggle to control both turn-out circuits; the wiring to both circuits was in, all that was left was to installed the two CDU2 circuits somewhere and make the final wiring connections. Photo 3 all the final wiring is installed. You can see the switch wiring is complete and the two electronic circuits on inside the lower/right of my control panel. In the last photo, the only two red LEDs are the ones for the second reverse track, with their controlling toggle switch right in the middle.