PM-1 Point Motors Question

[Sir TophamHatt]

I've read through the instructions and watched the Everard Junction video on wiring up these points. I was pretty confident but now I'm actually doing it, I'm not so sure.

 

So...

 

A goes to the switch.

C goes to one bus wire.

D I can ignore as I'm using insulfrog.

E I can ignore as I'm using insulfrog.

F I can ignore as I'm using insulfrog.

B goes to the other side of the switch.

 

However the instructions suggest D and E should go to any signals I may have. Does anyone know how this works?

The Everard Junction video says these two (D and E) switch the polarity of the tracks if I were using electrofrog points.

 

I'm powering my layout using DCC, but have an old Hornby controller that I'm using to power the secondary bus wires for the point motors.

I also have a CDU to put in there somewhere.

 

Cheers.

Edited January 4, 2018 by anotheruser

[frobisher]

Basically D, E, F are "just" a switch (connecting F to either D or E depending on the PM-1's position), but it will all depend on the signals you might have, and I don't think it would work with the Dapol motorised signals for instance straight out of the box (they switch on momentary contact across their two switch wires).

[Sir TophamHatt]

But I don't need to connect D, E or F to anything?

 

I'm pretty far away from being able to add signals so I'm happy just to fit the motor as is.  I know that's not really getting the most out of the motor but if I replace the points for electrofrog later, I have the motor to go with it.

 

The next challenge (ish) will be fitting two motors to one switch so I can switch two sets with the one push.

[smokebox]

If I was you, I would solder short lengths of wire to the D, E and F tags now, then if you want to connect signals at a later date you won't need to do any upside down soldering under the layout. Just use terminal blocks or other connectors to join up the wires when needed.

[frobisher]

But I don't need to connect D, E or F to anything?

 

I'm pretty far away from being able to add signals so I'm happy just to fit the motor as is.  I know that's not really getting the most out of the motor but if I replace the points for electrofrog later, I have the motor to go with it.

Yup It's probably worth doing what smokebox suggested to simplify your rewiring for electrofrogs in the future, in fact it's probably worth having a terminal block for all the connections all 6 so that it is easy to adjust the wiring should a particular PM-1 be wired the wrong way around... (see below)

 

The next challenge (ish) will be fitting two motors to one switch so I can switch two sets with the one push.

It shouldn't be too tricky, it's just a case of bonding the A and B terminals of the two PM-1s together correctly - either A-A and B-B or A-B and B-A depending upon which is the correct setting for each point.

[Sir TophamHatt]

Thanks.

 

I'll give this a go and see what happens.

 

I guess it doesn't really matter which side I put on the power source? (it's an old Hornby controller with the pins on the side).

Edited January 7, 2018 by anotheruser