RMweb Premium SJR Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 16, 2017 Hi, I'm trying to wire several Tortoise Switch machines following the wiring guide in the instructions. I have chosen method two which is the bi polar method using two 6 volt DC transformers wired in series. Getting power to the machines but nothing happens! any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers Simon Read Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
csvt2004 Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 So, you have 3 wires then? One from each transformer and a third from where the two transformers are connected together (a centre-tap) ? And you are connecting one wire from the centre-tap to say terminal 1 and one of the other wires to terminal 8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 The transformers need to have an output of at least 9v, as the motors need that voltage as a minimum. The SPDT switches use the full +-9v to switch the polarities to the motors Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
csvt2004 Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 And you are using a DC power supply? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John ks Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) The transformers DC power supplies must be wired in series as shown in the top part of the drawing the positive(+) of one transformer DC power supplies must be connected to the negative (-) of the other transformer DC power supplies & that becomes common wire to all of your tortoises If you have connected as per the bottom drawing then the tortoise wont work (it might work the first time you turn on the power but only the one time) I have always used the equivalent of 2 by 12V transformers DC power supplies & am not sure how well the tortoises work on 6V John Edited to appease the pedantic Edited August 16, 2017 by John ks 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2017 I didn't think Tortoise would work on 6v and that 9v was the minimum with 12v the preferred. I've just used a 12v power supply and wired them through DPDT switches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) The transformers must be wired in series as shown in the top part of the drawing the positive(+) of one transformer must be connected to the negative (-) of the other transformer & that becomes common wire to all of your tortoises tort.jpg If you have connected as per the bottom drawing then the tortoise wont work (it might work the first time you turn on the power but only the one time) I have always used the equivalent of 2 by 12V transformers & am not sure how well the tortoises work on 6V John May I raise the obvious question, what is a 'DC transformer'? Such a thing cannot exist! OP, what exactly are you using as a power supply, are you sure the outputs are DC, or is it actually an AC transformer, in which case you'll need to wire as per the 3rd diagram. http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/ins/800-6000ins.pdf Edit to add. If it is a twin 6 Volt DC power supply, then yes, you are correct, the wiring MUST be as per your FIRST diagram. 2nd edit, to get it right - duh! Edited August 16, 2017 by kevinlms Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
csvt2004 Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Just an observation. I just wired a tortoise on the work bench to a pair of AA batteries in series (3V) and it drove across ok. Not very quickly but 3V is enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold pheaton Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) May I raise the obvious question, what is a 'DC transformer'? Such a thing cannot exist! OP, what exactly are you using as a power supply, are you sure the outputs are DC, or is it actually an AC transformer, in which case you'll need to wire as per the 3rd diagram. http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/ins/800-6000ins.pdf Edit to add. If it is a twin 6 Volt DC power supply, then yes, you are correct, the wiring MUST be as per your FIRST diagram. 2nd edit, to get it right - duh! dc voltage transformers do indeed exist http://www.telcon.co.uk/PDF%20Files/DCVT5S.pdf ive have bought that very one to fix a solid state automatic voltage regulator in one of our locomotives However......when i first bought tortoises......i was shocked to work out that they recommended 2 power supplies for potentially 1 point motor.....therefore i did come up with a circuit with a relay, which did the job with one 12v power supply which could automatically operated two points opposite each other. and even had circuit boards printed for it, and it worked very well...but then i switched to DCC....and it was a lot easier But i do miss operating my tortoises with these and my modratec lever frame. Edited August 16, 2017 by pheaton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 16, 2017 The transformers DC power supplies must be wired in series as shown in the top part of the drawing the positive(+) of one transformer DC power supplies must be connected to the negative (-) of the other transformer DC power supplies & that becomes common wire to all of your tortoises tort.jpg If you have connected as per the bottom drawing then the tortoise wont work (it might work the first time you turn on the power but only the one time) I have always used the equivalent of 2 by 12V transformers DC power supplies & am not sure how well the tortoises work on 6V John Edited to appease the pedantic Sorry, it wasn't specifically aimed at you (although I did reply to your diagrams). But if the OP IS using an AC source that would explain the non operation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted August 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 16, 2017 dc voltage transformers do indeed exist http://www.telcon.co.uk/PDF%20Files/DCVT5S.pdf ive have bought that very one to fix a solid state automatic voltage regulator in one of our locomotives Fair enough, news to me. So perhaps the OP has one of these? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium SJR Posted August 17, 2017 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 17, 2017 Thank you all for your advice. More power did the trick with the application of two 12 V DC power supplies. Cheers Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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