DCC Concepts New small point motor Cobalt SS

[Mike Storey]

Just found out about this, which answers one of my prayers for a reliable (hopefully) non-solenoid, surface mounted point motor. It uses a stepper motor - I am not sure exactly what that is (I have looked it up) in comparison to the driven motors used in Tortoise and Circuitron etc point motors. Can anyone enlighten us? I just want to know if it is a slow action motor!

 

This is good news probably, given the imminent demise of the expensive but very good Minix Microdrive product (unless a buyer is found shortly), of which I have a few, and the reported unreliability, difficulties and relative installation complexities of Fulgurex, Tillig etc motors. Good news, because if it is a slow action motor, DCC will make it for dummies like me.

 

I attach DCC's installation instructions (but without saying exactly what the motor does) and it does not mention speed setting, but then other small motor-driven units don't either IIRC. I also attach Gaugemaster's listing, which shows a reasonable price for a two pack.

 

Comments?

 

https://www.dccconcepts.com/manual/cobalt-ss/

 

http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=DCDCP-CBSS-XO&style=&strType=&Mcode=DCC+Concepts+DCP%2DCBSS%2DXO

Edited April 2, 2017 by Mike Storey

[Kris]

Shame it would need modification to work under a board. A little more thought in the design and it could have been used both ways up.

[Mike Storey]

Shame it would need modification to work under a board. A little more thought in the design and it could have been used both ways up.

 

I think that could be done using their angle crank pack, but it then begins to make it somewhat pricey.

[tender]

Saw these at Warley last year on the DCC concepts section of the Gaugemaster stand. Not sure if it was a production example or a prototype but was told they would be on sale after the new year. Hopefully not long to wait as I could do with a couple for a viaduct where a under board motor is not viable.

From what I saw they would be a lot slower than a solonoid motor but maybe not quite as slow as a tortoise.

[Edwin_m]

The rotation of a stepper motor is controlled by digital pulses on (usually) three control wires, rather like a very small synchronous AC motor.  So it can turn at any speed and with very fine control of position, but how fast this particular one turns will depend on the electronic circuit that drives it and what gearing there is between the motor and the connection to the point. 

[barrymx5]

I have now ordered 2 of these and am looking forward to checking them out. For me too they look to be just what I have been waiting for.

[luke_stevens]

In was very impressed to see these in operation on the Gaugemaster display at the Bluebell Railway model railways weekend (24&35 June 17)

 

The key thing I thought was how quiet they were!

 

Look forward to getting mine...

 

Luke

[Mike Storey]

Every supplier I have browsed in the UK seems to show them as out of stock and on pre-order, or even "sold out" (GM). Has anyone found a retailer who actually has some? (or is a direct order from DCC the only option right now?).

[No Decorum]

Every supplier I have browsed in the UK seems to show them as out of stock and on pre-order, or even "sold out" (GM). Has anyone found a retailer who actually has some? (or is a direct order from DCC the only option right now?).

Hatton’s website reports them in stock.

[tender]

Every supplier I have browsed in the UK seems to show them as out of stock and on pre-order, or even "sold out" (GM). Has anyone found a retailer who actually has some? (or is a direct order from DCC the only option right now?).

I got a pack from Gaugemaster a few days ago, did a quick wire up to my DCC track just to make sure they are working, but have yet to instal them. One discrepancy from the manual is that when you press the reset button for 3 seconds it sends the actuator to one end, not the centre.

From a mounting point of view, they take up quite a lot of room to the side of the track as they have to be mounted at 90 degrees to the track. For my application on a viaduct I don't have that room so will have to mount a crank so they can be mounted along the line of the track, hopefully between the double tracks. Still have to check the distances / heights to make sure they won't foul any rolling stock.

Edited June 28, 2017 by tender

[Mike Storey]

Hatton’s website reports them in stock.

 

So I now see - that has changed from just a few days ago!

[newbryford]

From a mounting point of view, they take up quite a lot of room to the side of the track as they have to be mounted at 90 degrees to the track. For my application on a viaduct I don't have that room so will have to mount a crank so they can be mounted along the line of the track, hopefully between the double tracks. Still have to check the distances / heights to make sure they won't foul any rolling stock.

 

They are only 10mm high, so should be good for mounting trackside.

 14mm across the body, plus the fixing lugs and only 27mm long.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[Penrhos1920]

They are only 10mm high, so should be good for mounting trackside.

 14mm across the body, plus the fixing lugs and only 27mm long.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Interesting. Is the throw adjustable? Can they be used for P4 or EM.

[newbryford]

Interesting. Is the throw adjustable? Can they be used for P4 or EM.

 

Yes - the throw is adjustable in it's span and position of span by using the adjusters on the control board.

 

I'll try and check what the minimum throw is tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[barrymx5]

I believe I will be able to mount one under a platform. There is sufficient clearance in 00.

[pc3163]

I've just purchased a couple of these with their associated controller board. I don't think that they'll work with my Hornby R8247 Accessory Decoder, the instructions for which suggest it can only be used with solenoid point motors.

 

Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive accessory decoder that will work with the Cobalt SS? Ideally, because I'd like to use more of these if they work ok, I want an accessory decoder that will control more than just 2 point motors.

[tender]

I've just purchased a couple of these with their associated controller board. I don't think that they'll work with my Hornby R8247 Accessory Decoder, the instructions for which suggest it can only be used with solenoid point motors.

 

Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive accessory decoder that will work with the Cobalt SS? Ideally, because I'd like to use more of these if they work ok, I want an accessory decoder that will control more than just 2 point motors.

 

 

If you have purchased the Cobalt SS with the controller board you don't need an accessory decoder as the controller board will work with DCC. The controller board has two individually addressed accessory outputs to connect a SS motor to, but you can connect more than one motor to each output (i.e. for a cross over) using the included extension cable. I have had three SS motors plugged into one output and it still seems to work ok.

[pc3163]

If you have purchased the Cobalt SS with the controller board you don't need an accessory decoder as the controller board will work with DCC. The controller board has two individually addressed accessory outputs to connect a SS motor to, but you can connect more than one motor to each output (i.e. for a cross over) using the included extension cable. I have had three SS motors plugged into one output and it still seems to work ok.

 

This sounds great. So will they work ok with E-link & RailMaster once the addresses have been set via the controller or do the addresses need to be set via RailMaster itself?? Will they work direct from the Hornby Select DCC controller too?

[NIK]

Hi,

 

I wonder if the point motors are similar to these:

 

 

I've always regarded the use of servos for model railways as a cheaper but not necessarily better alternative to slow motor drive point motors.

 

However I guess the more options the merrier.

 

I haven't yet worked out what savings are made by the SS motors coming with a DCC compatible controller which also incorporates frog switching and more besides.

 

Regards

 

Nick

 

 

[tender]

This sounds great. So will they work ok with E-link & RailMaster once the addresses have been set via the controller or do the addresses need to be set via RailMaster itself?? Will they work direct from the Hornby Select DCC controller too?

 

 

No reason why they shouldn't. To program an accessory address just set the onboard switch to 'set' and send an accessory command with the required address from whatever system you are using, then set the switch back to run.

[tender]

Hi,

 

I wonder if the point motors are similar to these:

 

LINEAR SERVO A 1.PNG

 

I've always regarded the use of servos for model railways as a cheaper but not necessarily better alternative to slow motor drive point motors.

 

However I guess the more options the merrier.

 

I haven't yet worked out what savings are made by the SS motors coming with a DCC compatible controller which also incorporates frog switching and more besides.

 

Regards

 

Nick

 

No, they are smaller and use stepper motors, not servos.

[tophski]

Not sure about savings, but I have used these motors in 009. 

Positives: easy to fit, simple to wire in, silent, easily adjustable

Negatives: if using for stock with a low clearance (009) or such like, you will need to bend your own wire replacement to go from the motor to the point, to set the point motor further away as stock hits them if laid on the same surface.

 

Have got 8, have fitted 4, bought direct from DCC concepts who were very helpful when I bought them.

 

Chris