tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post2508833511925231990..comments2024-03-29T04:33:05.907-07:00Comments on quinntopia - An N Scale blog: Minitrix Turnouts / Switch / PointsJerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-71328857330283274912014-10-28T11:53:52.641-07:002014-10-28T11:53:52.641-07:00Hello,
Thanks again for your reply. This is reall...Hello,<br /><br />Thanks again for your reply. This is really helpful... I am using them as part of my mainline... some of them are within yards and thus will need to be covered by ballast, while others are near fields and I think I will do them in green... I hate the shiny metal color which makes it look as if their are metal in the middle of the ground... I will use your suggested method but how can I ensure that no glue or paint goes in... I am really worried about that and I do not want to re install and motors again... it took really long time... I mean how could I put the plastic and fix it?<br /><br />Thanks again...<br /><br />AmrAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07566638601785067150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-79049874145841611472014-08-09T14:34:43.869-07:002014-08-09T14:34:43.869-07:00Hi Amr!
Glad to see that you were able to resolve...Hi Amr!<br /><br />Glad to see that you were able to resolve that question! <br /><br />As for what you can do to try and hide or cover the turnout motor (new ones are really shiny metal, so they definetly don't look good!) I did two things which worked pretty well.<br /><br />1. Paint the metal a dull brown or other color that matches your earth color near the switch. I did this for the majority of the switches and if you can get a color that is close, it acts as good camouflage!<br /><br />2. Cover the area (including the switch motor) with some tape or thin pastic, than ballast over that. I did that with a yard lead and had several motors in a row.<br /><br />In both cases I made sure not get ANY ballast and/or glue near the motor or the moving turnout parts! Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-49228093717232507952014-08-09T12:56:15.097-07:002014-08-09T12:56:15.097-07:00Hello,
Thx for your reply... In fact, I tried ano...Hello,<br /><br />Thx for your reply... In fact, I tried another turnout and it worked... It seems that the problem was with the turnout itself (maybe because I got them 2nd hand)... I moved them to a small side yard where I am using manual control... <br />I still did not finish all the wiring yet so I didn't control all of them at the same time yet...<br /><br />I have another question... If I want to extend the ballasting to cover the turnout motor to get a more prototypical look... any ideas how can I do that?<br /><br />Thx again :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07566638601785067150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-81715719927396086712014-08-04T09:20:34.092-07:002014-08-04T09:20:34.092-07:00Hi Amr!
Did you see Martjin's comments at the...Hi Amr!<br /><br />Did you see Martjin's comments at the top of all the comments to this article? He brings up a point about this method of using the switch motors (upside down) that I did not know at the time I installed mine. So they are really not totally perfect in this mode.<br /><br />In fact, my own experience is similar to Martjin's in that I had problems with the swith motor effectively throwing the 'red lever' all the way over so that the points would move all the way and the polarity was reversed. The only solutions I can think of are:<br /><br />1. Ensure that the switch motor is getting enough 'power' to adequately throw the points/red lever. <br />2. Make sure the switch motor is pushed in all the way on the turnout itself so that there is little or no gap or play between the motor and the turnout.<br />3. Test a different switch and/or motor?<br /><br />That's about all I can offer. I agree with Martjin that they are not perfect in this role (one of the reasons I will probably not use them in the future - at least I won't use them 'upside down' anyway) but not all of them were problems and some seemed to work really well (maybe there is inconsistent quality of the switches or wiring issues that created this experience for me, but I don't think so).<br /><br />All I can say is good luck and let me know if you can figure out a solution!Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-81293232467549611492014-08-03T13:13:07.179-07:002014-08-03T13:13:07.179-07:00Hello, thx for your post. I have minitrix turnouts...Hello, thx for your post. I have minitrix turnouts and I have installed the motors in the upside position as you did and did all the wiring but I am facing a strange problem. When I click the button on the controller I hear the buzz of the turnout motor and it moves but it could not make the turnout frogs move. In other words the motor works and it starts to move the red button at the lower part of the turnout but it could not take it all the way so the frogs change their direction... do you know why is that and how can I solve it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07566638601785067150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-8684476552678454982014-08-03T13:11:54.185-07:002014-08-03T13:11:54.185-07:00Hello, thx for your post. I have minitrix turnouts...Hello, thx for your post. I have minitrix turnouts and I have installed the motors in the upside position as you did and did all the wiring but I am facing a strange problem. When I click the button on the controller I hear the buzz of the turnout motor and it moves but it could not make the turnout frogs move. In other words the motor works and it starts to move the red button at the lower part of the turnout but it could not take it all the way so the frogs change their direction... do you know why is that and how can I solve it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-66893080167980115852011-10-11T19:17:54.257-07:002011-10-11T19:17:54.257-07:0014 volts AC, although I am using 12v DC currently ...14 volts AC, although I am using 12v DC currently with mine.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-39749461713783013002011-10-10T18:10:38.321-07:002011-10-10T18:10:38.321-07:00On your manual what are the specification of the t...On your manual what are the specification of the transformer use to power up the switch motors?<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the help!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-66741854546254387002011-10-09T19:22:36.758-07:002011-10-09T19:22:36.758-07:00Oh sorry, I didn't understand your question!
...Oh sorry, I didn't understand your question! <br /><br />The White is the common. The manual I have for the switch motors seems to indicate that Green is for the diverging route, with Yellow for straight.<br /><br />I hope that helps!Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-25864028239586248242011-10-09T15:59:02.024-07:002011-10-09T15:59:02.024-07:00Hello,
I forgot to mention the turnout that I hav...Hello,<br /><br />I forgot to mention the turnout that I have is a Minitrix (14955 Right Turnout and 14935 Electric Turnout motor), the sequence of the wires color seem to be diferente. But im trying to figure out which is the "common" wire and the wire for the right and the other for the left!!And what transformer do i have to use?!<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-34944012627982584802011-10-09T09:12:57.131-07:002011-10-09T09:12:57.131-07:00Hi Anonymous! The wires that Minitrix provides f...Hi Anonymous! The wires that Minitrix provides for its turnout motors is white, green and yellow. Apparently, each manufacturer selects its own colors for the wires! Most of us in North America are used to the Atlas wire colors, but I know that Fleischmann, Arnold, etc.. all have difference colored wires as well.<br /><br />Here's a shop that offers a lot of different types:<br />http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/erh_list.asp?ca=13&offset=75Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-76871237162245285542011-10-08T18:11:27.125-07:002011-10-08T18:11:27.125-07:00Hello,
How did you make the wirings of the turnou...Hello,<br /><br />How did you make the wirings of the turnout ( green, white yellow)?<br /><br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-85759645762997050862011-01-26T09:53:12.228-08:002011-01-26T09:53:12.228-08:00Hello Jerry,
very intersting post , i will take m...Hello Jerry,<br /><br />very intersting post , i will take much time to read it.i also visit the ken website.<br /><br />thanks<br /><br />pascalZardozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02357329349868021778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-87354493872090010742011-01-25T10:45:35.896-08:002011-01-25T10:45:35.896-08:00Hello Jerry, thanks for your comment on my blog (t...Hello Jerry, thanks for your comment on my blog (trains160). Yes, we have the same set of minitrix. It was my first set of trix and i bought 2 years ago. I already knew your blog by searching in internet and your blog it's great because you always have a lot of information and we always learn from the experience of others. I already joined your blog. See you soon.<br />MárioMário Ináciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14240155438512656470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-68541597644682003912011-01-25T10:45:12.352-08:002011-01-25T10:45:12.352-08:00Hello Jerry, thanks for your comment on my blog (t...Hello Jerry, thanks for your comment on my blog (trains160). Yes, we have the same set of minitrix. It was my first set of trix and i bought 2 years ago. I already knew your blog by searching in internet and your blog it's great because you always have a lot of information and we always learn from the experience of others. I already joined your blog. See you soon.<br />MárioMário Ináciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14240155438512656470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-7052748931815631932011-01-25T03:37:32.345-08:002011-01-25T03:37:32.345-08:00I don't really do anything special with my tra...I don't really do anything special with my track laying for it to be an influence really :)<br /><br />The main advantage in your case is that the turnouts are used in a yard, which is (from the looks of it) easily accessible. That obviously makes it a lot less of a problem should a turnout refuse to work. In my case, I have many of them that are hidden underneath mountains, or generally just hard to reach. Many of them are also already ballasted, so replacing them is painful. Anyway, I'm frustrated enough by them to have switched (no pun intended :)) to Peco turnouts. They're not inherently more reliable, but they're easier to optimize for reliability.<br /><br />I haven't connected all turnouts yet, but yeah, there's plenty wire under the table. The whole thing is digital and uses blocks, which adds quite a few extra meters of wire ;)Martijn Meertshttp://www.jr-chiisai.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-74186212752534321192011-01-24T21:36:15.046-08:002011-01-24T21:36:15.046-08:00Thanks Martijn! Good info! I should have mention...Thanks Martijn! Good info! I should have mentioned how much I liked the work you were doing with Minitrix, it was one of my influences!<br />http://www.jr-chiisai.net/blog/progress-moritzburg/building-non-japanese-layout-part-i<br /><br />Depending on how frustrating the reliability of these switches are, I may try to figure out some modification. Now that you point it out, I think it could be fairly straight forward!<br /><br />50? of them! Wow! I can only imagine all the wire that will require (something I didn't think about when I started was the sheer volume of wiring all these switches would take...I only have about 15 and its a lot!).<br />Thanks!Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454470373325096585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530989713679372474.post-41394335324654038882011-01-24T02:09:46.184-08:002011-01-24T02:09:46.184-08:00Mounting the turnout motors upside-down is actuall...Mounting the turnout motors upside-down is actually one of the causes the turnouts become less reliable. The slot in the turnout motor has less grip on the red lever when mounted in that position. Interestingly enough, they never saw the need to fix it :)<br /><br />I don't know anything about Unitrack turnouts, but replacing the Tomix turnout motors is a lot easier that the Minitrix ones if you mount the Minitrix ones upside-down, especially if you nail or screw the track to the baseboard.<br /><br />I have a feeling that newer Minitrix turnouts have gotten less reliable. I blame it partially on Minitrix quality control, and partially on Minitrix's inability to update their turnouts for the newer, smaller, more prototypical wheels many trains use. I've had to adjust several of the turnouts in order to get (most) trains to run as they should, but I still have regular derailments on turnouts. Then again, I have about 50 of them strewn about the layout, so there's bound to be a few failures ;)Martijn Meertshttp://www.jr-chiisai.netnoreply@blogger.com