In the previous post, I used a micro baseboard to test the use of a hand held magnet to activate a Peco Elsie coupling with a Coupler Lift Arms. The baseboard was originally built to prove that it's possible to operate N Gauge points, using Peco surface mounted point motors. In the catalogue they are only shown being used with OO gauge points.

The secondary objective was to prove whether or not analogue points could be powered from a DCC bus signal, without interrupting digital operation. The circuit consists of several components, these are a rectification circuit, complete with a capacitor. This does not operate as a capacitance discharge unit, but prevents current surges when a point motor is operated. The capacitor is under the baseboard.

The DC is feed via a centre off double throw switch, to the left to select the branch, the non straight road and left for the main. The points are of course held in position using the over centre spring, installed on the point.

The third component is a circuit which is driven via a micro switch operated by the no driven end of the point tiebar. This shows a red illumination of an led for the branch and green for the main. The led is a two input red green led, connected round one way it glows red and the other way glows green.

I have also increased the size of the pip on the point tiebar, because having a larger on, with a smaller gap between it and the activator on the point motor, this reduces wear and also increases point motor life.

Julie