Sol

I keep in contact with friends & family firstly by a phone call or a simple TXT/SMS message or e-mail in which I can add photos. Plenty of model rail forums/forii as well Dunno if Skype is still going but I did have that for a couple of friends in Europe that I met via DOGA.

I had asked Peco why they did that as I was going to use those wiping contacts as a reason why I didn't provide additional switching. They did it at the time of updating the turnout for mainly two reasons. 1. Many modified the turnout for DCC by isolating the frog & bonding blades to stock rails ( just like Unifrog is now) 2. Many people pushed them down out of the way so as not too cause any problems. I can under 1., but 2. ???

How do you know it recognizes the loco? Just because you entered what you thought was the correct Loco code doesn't mean the decoder sees that request. I/We assume you do have it connected as per the diagram inside the front cover of the NCE Powercab manual? Using a multimeter in AC volts mode, you should see approx 13v on the rails when all connected properly. Ron

While I will agree in replacing large images with links, I was like the OP refering to smilies / emoticons which takes up possibly two characters on a line as compared to many characters of a link.

Replacing say 4 smilies with links, isn't that more space taken up on screen ?

Do both turnouts face the same way? If not - follow this wiring https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/media/downloads/GM500_DS.pdf for the twin point wiring.

OK, here goes this is from the cobalt manual showing the terminals and the 2 change over switches and lets us assume the turnout is set for the straight track --- so the frog wire is connected to a C terminal and S1 & S2 to the track wires - so assume S2 goes to the straight rail & S1 to the curved rail & it works without shorting - if there is short reverse S1 & S2. Now when you instal the next Cobalt whether face to face or back to back - C goes to Frog & S1 & S2 to track rails and you may have to reverse those 2 wires to stop a short. One can draw the turnout in the straight though mode & add the contacts set to represent straight thru & draw connections accordingly but unless one is really up to that, I would connect one Cobalt at a time & test it before doing the next.

If the motors are face to face ( or back to back) then you have to connect the track dropper wires for frog switching to match - they will have to be different.

You could use these http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/point_indicator.html#POINT-INDICATOR-RELAY

On tonight here in Australia

Thanks Martin - found it https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/150336-please-add-numbers-to-replies/&do=findComment&comment=3784400

Worked that time.

OK, it did show the URL info but then changed to the actual post with all details ? https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/150336-please-add-numbers-to-replies/&do=findComment&comment=3784398

OK, did the "share post" thing

I agree with you Robin2 - I prefer Post #, not a link to further up the page/thread. Something I am used too on other forii.

Was it a bulb or LED?

Why not contact TCS direct techsupport@tcsdcc.com specifying loco brand & decoder version/type

I did pension off my steam locos when rebuilding my layout - diesels don't need turntables generally compared to large steam locos..

But that can be found by using a multimeter in ohms mode.... making sure input side is not connected to output side... and if the tranny is not labelled input / output, using it as a door stop...

And I enjoyed the last film - IMO, it tidied it up. One of my grandsons ( 15 years old) saw it 3 days ago & is going tonight with his father ( who I took to see the first one in 1977) to see it again.

Bachmann have brass wheels but kept the steel axles which can still be affected magnetically. but only for wagons https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/product/branchline-brass-turned-wagon-disc-brake-wheels-x1036-034/

Thanks Andy, I am aware of how well it runs - it is the fact that it takes a lot more effort in tracklaying.

And I am very familiar with that problem of baseboards and dead flat track. Currently involved in a club building a P87 layout for 5' 3 1/2" gauge South Australian Railways which equates to 18.37mm gauge & code 55 rail. With the small flanges, very easy to derail if track is not laid at 110% perfect and a fly has not deposited a load on the rail head. !

The OP did say he was contemplating using LEDs so combining the DCC Concepts info and https://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/ledcalc.php a resistor value range can be obtained

Use 560 ohm resistors on the 4.1v output but if in doubt , use 1K ohms https://www.dccconcepts.com/manual/leds-and-how-to-get-the-best-from-them/