I went on Amazon and bought two power supplies of 12V-2amps for $9.50 each. All the rest I purchased from Yankee Dabbler at reduced costs. Even the switch machines(SM) were much cheaper than what you spoke of by the five pack. So far I have the two power supplies, 15 SMs, and three power boards. Two power boards run off one power supply. And they work better than the Tortoise switch machines. I didn't follow the Walther directions since I installed them all myself, and only drilled one hole to move the switch. After pushing the switch rod through the switch above I put a pair of vice-grips on the rod to hold it in place. Use a bright flashlight to see the rod poking up through the hole. Then I screwed the SM in place with short wood screws. To center the switch points two small screwdrivers will work as well. This is much easier than soldering the Tortoise SM.
I should have mentioned (unless I did) that all the prices I gave were in Canadian dollar. That’s a good idea with the vice grips as well. Thanks for watching
I am having problems with Single Crossover connection. I can find Nowhere that states what the actual connections are. The instructions say " connect two machines". Not how or where. I have three days into One crossover and I'm just about done with it. I got my stuff at Yankee too. And with their service, I will probably get more from them !
@@ppgwhereeverett4412 You must daisy chain them together as instructed, and use one with two buttons and the other a single button type. It took me a long time to figure this out by experimentation. By daisy chaining connect a three wire to the bottom connections just as you would connect where you put your power source. And you may have to flip the connecting wire to get it to work. Hope this helps.
great video. i'm leaning toward walthers switch machines because they are lighter than tortoises and i want my layout to be moveable. thanks for posting!
Go to the 15min mark. Keeping in mind it’s 🇨🇦 dollar. There is also an attachment for tortoise so that you can connect to a board for power and a facia button.
I have this and it's working well. But I would like to change the polarity of the frog when the switch changes position. Did you see anything any where?
Unfortunately I never powered my frogs. So it’s not something I looked into. If you send an email to Walthers they are real good at getting back to you.
To keep your switch points centered while installing I use two small screwdrivers placed on either side of the points. I bought my 12 volt power supply from Amazon for $8.89 each and I now have 4. Good instruction on installation. Still there is not much information about this type of switch machine. I now have 15 with one not working. Not sure what the problem is.
I been trying to find info about how long the throw bar is. I have 2" foam on top of my plywood then I have the thickness of the cork and ties. So wondering if the throw bar is long enough or would I have to change it out or can it be changed ?
The throw rod is long enough to go though 1/2” ply, cork roadbed…. Then up though the track. A little bit gets snipped off from that. I’m sure it’s possible to change but easier on a tortoise. Might not be worth it. However even spots on my layout where it would be too thick, I cut a square ply of wood. Then cut out the foam under the switch.. then put the wood level with the foam so that it goes just through the 1/2” wood and cork
Thanks for the info. I will have to get some and try them. I don't have any foam on my top level so can use them on it and play with them to see how they will work on the bottom level.
When you wire the board to your dcc system you can program them from the throttle and throw them from the controller. I just prefer the facia push button.
It doesn’t touch on any of that. I’m sure there is a way like with a tortoise machine, but because I don’t power my frogs I just run it as a stand alone switch. There are different adapters available.. not sure if one of those will do it. I just kept it simple.
Eventually after this I ended up spot tacking the machine with hot glue and that worked as well. Easy to remove if need be as well. Thanks for watching!
These SEEM to be really cool but with NO directions at all on how they connect in a crossover they just are not worth the pain in the ass that the connections are making it !! I may (not sure yet) return this whole thing to Walther's and just call it a day . Not worth the hassle !!
Most of the connections and setup you really need to dig for. It can be as simple as you like or you can really go crazy with it. I keep things simple though.
I went on Amazon and bought two power supplies of 12V-2amps for $9.50 each. All the rest I purchased from Yankee Dabbler at reduced costs. Even the switch machines(SM) were much cheaper than what you spoke of by the five pack. So far I have the two power supplies, 15 SMs, and three power boards. Two power boards run off one power supply. And they work better than the Tortoise switch machines. I didn't follow the Walther directions since I installed them all myself, and only drilled one hole to move the switch. After pushing the switch rod through the switch above I put a pair of vice-grips on the rod to hold it in place. Use a bright flashlight to see the rod poking up through the hole. Then I screwed the SM in place with short wood screws. To center the switch points two small screwdrivers will work as well. This is much easier than soldering the Tortoise SM.
I should have mentioned (unless I did) that all the prices I gave were in Canadian dollar. That’s a good idea with the vice grips as well.
Thanks for watching
I am having problems with Single Crossover connection. I can find Nowhere that states what the actual connections are. The instructions say " connect two machines". Not how or where. I have three days into One crossover and I'm just about done with it. I got my stuff at Yankee too. And with their service, I will probably get more from them !
I should add ; I'm having problems with the crossover. The single switches (2 of them) work great ! It's the single crossovers that don't work.
@@ppgwhereeverett4412 They have a manual that is useful, and it is better to download it so you can study it.
@@ppgwhereeverett4412 You must daisy chain them together as instructed, and use one with two buttons and the other a single button type. It took me a long time to figure this out by experimentation. By daisy chaining connect a three wire to the bottom connections just as you would connect where you put your power source. And you may have to flip the connecting wire to get it to work. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the review Kris. Looking forward to getting these installed. I really like the concept of this system. All the best, John
I use a piece of hookup wire lightly press into each side of the thow bar and remove them when the points are set permantly in place. Great video
Issue is that you shouldn’t need to do that or change the couplers. As long as you are able to use them without issue
Very nice video. Great explanation and show. Oh yeah for that little black thing that centers the points, one word TAPE.
These are nice switch motors and very easy to deal with.
Thanks for sharing
Muse
No problem 👍
That was fun installing those in the yard
Nice set up and instruction. Thanks for sharing. Dave
This is a great system, I am going use this on my layout
Great installation and good video!👍 Also I thought you were to say “aboot” I thought you were Canadian!;) Take care!
I put a pinch of scotch tape on the very tip of the rod and drop it down from the top, tape keeps it from falling through.
That’s a great tip. I was able to do that with a couple where I could be above and below at the same time… but for some of my layout it’s not ideal.
great video. i'm leaning toward walthers switch machines because they are lighter than tortoises and i want my layout to be moveable. thanks for posting!
They are great as a modular system.
Great job.
Great overview! Now let’s get them all installed and move on to level 2! Haha.
I agree!
Mark it will come relax I know your itching to run and a multi level layout lol
Nice review of that system Kris...been thinks about purchasing it...I like the plug and play vs creating/figuring out myself to...lazy 😊
I think it’s a great system but still tough to install on your own.
Nice vid dude. They look nice, though I'll stick with my tortoises for now. ;)
Very cool! How much did all the parts cost? I have been using Tortoises with a NCE Switch 8-Mk2. Thanks! - Jason
Go to the 15min mark. Keeping in mind it’s 🇨🇦 dollar. There is also an attachment for tortoise so that you can connect to a board for power and a facia button.
I found this video so helpful, Just wondering, do you need a power supply for each power board?
I personally will have a power supply on each board. There is a port where you can attach wires. So I feel like you can have a separate bus line.
Nice work nice product👍👍👍
Will you be adding DCC control to the turnouts!
Is it possible to combine DCC control and still use the pushbuttons?
There is an adapter to make them dcc controlled as well. I will stick with the push button though.
I have this and it's working well. But I would like to change the polarity of the frog when the switch changes position. Did you see anything any where?
Unfortunately I never powered my frogs. So it’s not something I looked into. If you send an email to Walthers they are real good at getting back to you.
To keep your switch points centered while installing I use two small screwdrivers placed on either side of the points. I bought my 12 volt power supply from Amazon for $8.89 each and I now have 4. Good instruction on installation. Still there is not much information about this type of switch machine. I now have 15 with one not working. Not sure what the problem is.
Walthers is really good about replacing them. I has 2 machines and 2 toggle switches replaced out of like 20??? Each.
I been trying to find info about how long the throw bar is. I have 2" foam on top of my plywood then I have the thickness of the cork and ties. So wondering if the throw bar is long enough or would I have to change it out or can it be changed ?
The throw rod is long enough to go though 1/2” ply, cork roadbed…. Then up though the track.
A little bit gets snipped off from that. I’m sure it’s possible to change but easier on a tortoise.
Might not be worth it. However even spots on my layout where it would be too thick, I cut a square ply of wood. Then cut out the foam under the switch.. then put the wood level with the foam so that it goes just through the 1/2” wood and cork
Thanks for the info. I will have to get some and try them. I don't have any foam on my top level so can use them on it and play with them to see how they will work on the bottom level.
Can a separate dcc power booster be used to power the boards?
When you wire the board to your dcc system you can program them from the throttle and throw them from the controller. I just prefer the facia push button.
How do you deal with frog polarity using these?
It doesn’t touch on any of that. I’m sure there is a way like with a tortoise machine, but because I don’t power my frogs I just run it as a stand alone switch. There are different adapters available.. not sure if one of those will do it. I just kept it simple.
@@GoViaorgohome The switch machine has 2 micro switches that can be used for powering frogs and/or panel lights, etc.
i stuck a peace of tape over it and i stays in place
Eventually after this I ended up spot tacking the machine with hot glue and that worked as well. Easy to remove if need be as well.
Thanks for watching!
These SEEM to be really cool but with NO directions at all on how they connect in a crossover they just are not worth the pain in the ass that the connections are making it !! I may (not sure yet) return this whole thing to Walther's and just call it a day . Not worth the hassle !!
Most of the connections and setup you really need to dig for. It can be as simple as you like or you can really go crazy with it. I keep things simple though.