point motors

[scahalane]

Any advise on what point motors should I buy for my layout. I'm trying to keep the price down as much as possible and to be honest I haven't a clue when it comes to this stuff. I was looking at the Peco motors vs the Tortoise ones and was wondering which would work out cheaper in the long run.

Also apart from the point motor what all else is required for both Peco and Tortoise in terms of (twin micro switches, mounting plates, toggle switches) all of which I'm getting bogged down in. The layout is dcc and I'm using Peco electrofrog code 75 in which I'll require about 30 motors.

Thanks Sean.

[Blaine]

Unless your a total purist, tortoise ones are a waste of money. Granted they are good, but if you want the points changed and dont mind it done at the same speed as clicking your fingers Peco ones are fine

[WRENNEIRE]

Peco are around €8 - €9 per point

Tortoise €16 - €17

[Dave]

Peco point motors are fine, you will need an auxiliary switch with it if you are powering the frog on the point, as you need to switch the polarity on the frog as the point switches.You don't have to power the frog, but you are relying on the side of the frog and rail for electrical continuity. If you need a second switch for an LED to show which way the point is set you will need a PL-15 twin micro switch. These are a pain as you have to assemble them, it took me 2 hours the other day to assemble 18 of them! The Seep point motor has all this built in and works out cheaper.

 

Peco

http://www.ehattons.com/7547/Peco_Products_PL_10E_Point_Motor_with_Extended_Pin_use_with_PL_9_/StockDetail.aspx

Single Aux switch

http://www.ehattons.com/7541/Peco_Products_PL_13_Accessory_Switch_for_fitting_to_turnout_motor_PL10/StockDetail.aspx

Dual Aux switch

http://www.ehattons.com/7554/Peco_Products_PL_15_Twin_Microswitch/StockDetail.aspx

Seep point motor

http://www.ehattons.com/7172/Gaugemaster_Controls_PM_1_Seep_point_motor_with_accessory_switch/StockDetail.aspx

Switches

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Hornby-Peco-Alternative-Points-Switch-10Pack-SW301b-/160496061737?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item255e4f8d29

Capacitor discharge unit

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Capacitor-Discharge-Unit-Mega-CDU-Hornby-Seep-Gaugemaster-Peco-Points-Motor-2C-/400347966710?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item5d36992cf6

[BosKonay]

And if dcc, the dcc cobalt is good value as you get all the above, pus accessory switching, frog switch and a decoder

[irishthump]

The Seep point motors are yer only man!

As Dave said the ones with the built-in polarity switch can be used to switch frog polarity or for controlling signals.

[scahalane]

Thanks for all the advise lads, I think I'll go with the Seep motors purely on price. Thanks Dave for the links, helps a lot.

Do I need a Capacitor discharge unit for each point or is one enough?? and what does it do anyway, excuse my ignorance on this!

[Dave]

The capacitor discharge unit in the link will be enough for what you want to do. You will only need one. I am making control panels pre-wired and numbered with connection terminals for connecting point motors to complete with a heavy duty DC power supply and LED indicators showing the position of the point.

[scahalane]

The capacitor discharge unit in the link will be enough for what you want to do. You will only need one. I am making control panels pre-wired and numbered with connection terminals for connecting point motors to complete with a heavy duty DC power supply and LED indicators showing the position of the point.

 

Thanks Dave, love to see how you get on with the control panels.

[Dave]

Thanks Dave, love to see how you get on with the control panels.

 

No worries, I'm currently building a 10' x 5' layout for a customer, I'll post pics of it when its finished

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Thanks for all the advise lads, I think I'll go with the Seep motors purely on price. Thanks Dave for the links, helps a lot.

Do I need a Capacitor discharge unit for each point or is one enough?? and what does it do anyway, excuse my ignorance on this!

 

 

 

Stay away from Seep as they aint as good as the peco. I have some seep on my layout and they break your heart. Peco you hit the switch and they do their job with no problems and are very reliable. You don't need a capacitor as a laptop charger at around 18v AC is enough power to throw 3 points at once. If you can get a 24v DC 5amp power supply this would be even better.

[Train model]

I have seep on my layout for the last 10 years no problems

[scahalane]

Looking at various discussions on the RM web site, it seems people are split between the peco and seep motors, so I suppose it all boils down to personal experience and preference. The tortoise look the best but are way too expensive for me so I think given price and the fact the seep have a built in micro switch I'm going to take a chance on them. There seems to be some issue on how good the seep micro switch is so if that becomes an issue later on I presume I could replace the switch with separate ones like the V3 Style Alarm Tamper Switch from maplin. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=20406

[irishthump]

Looking at various discussions on the RM web site, it seems people are split between the peco and seep motors, so I suppose it all boils down to personal experience and preference. The tortoise look the best but are way too expensive for me so I think given price and the fact the seep have a built in micro switch I'm going to take a chance on them. There seems to be some issue on how good the seep micro switch is so if that becomes an issue later on I presume I could replace the switch with separate ones like the V3 Style Alarm Tamper Switch from maplin. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=20406

 

The micro Switch on the Seep motors is simply a brass collar that moves between 2 contacts. It can become dirty or just wear out over time but once you have one installed they are easily replaced if one goes on the blink, they are cheap enough or like you said you could add an auxiliary switch. But I've had no problems on my layout with them and the motors themselves are as good as any other.