Wow! that's a complicated subject to try and get across, but you handled it well! when I did my diamond crossing I also use the Tamvalley frog juicer it makes things so much easier besides Gaugemaster didn't make them back then 🤣🤣🤣. I know you like the tortoise point motors but another option to look at may be the ones made by MTB. The MTB mp10 offers 2 switches built in to it and is also a lot smaller if you are ever tight for space plus it is a direct replacement for the tortoise. All the best Tony.
Hi Phil. I believe Tortoise point motors switch the frog polarity, although apparently the connections are not intuitive. This should obviate the need for juicers. OK, so the diamond crossing has no moving parts (i.e, not a slip)?
As you have realised - I can use the tortoise to switch the frog for the points, however the actual diamond has no moving parts, so it is either a frog juicer, or I make assumptions based on how a nearby point is set.
Instead of "black to the back", for a layout that runs in a loop, I recommend thinking of the wire colours by reference to lava: red on the inside, black on the outside.
Recently done a pair of crossings like this (in OO, C75 electrofrog), looked at a few ways of doing it, went "cheap" in the end, each diamond has a pair of single pole relays (because cheap boards only have single pole ones). crossing has insulating joiners on all rails making it its own electrical section - the software that drives the two point motors (servos in this case) also drives the four relays controlling the crossing. one of the points sets both crossing frogs. not as robust as what you have as "wrong way" running will cause a short, hopefully the rest of the signalling will help with that. Tortoise look good, way to bulky for me, and you have them in N.. wild. nice looking layout, and neatly done boards too
@@aleopardstail there are certainly several ways of doing it. I am surprised I have not seen more folks discussing the various approaches to diamond frogs. Tortoises are a bit big for n-gauge, but they do just about fit if you plan carefully.
Who said wiring a layout was easy ! ? I had to watch it twice before fully following your reasoning, but got there in the end :) Electronics is easy in comparison :)
I see you’ve treated yourself to a battery drill!!!! Well done Phil! Retire that wheel brace!!
Always had a power drill. But when I am doing precision work, or near the track, I prefer the hand drill,.
@ perfect answer Phill, i still love the hand finished feel to all my work as a joiner so hand drill gives a sort of organic feedback if you will!!
Wow! that's a complicated subject to try and get across, but you handled it well! when I did my diamond crossing I also use the Tamvalley frog juicer it makes things so much easier besides Gaugemaster didn't make them back then 🤣🤣🤣. I know you like the tortoise point motors but another option to look at may be the ones made by MTB. The MTB mp10 offers 2 switches built in to it and is also a lot smaller if you are ever tight for space plus it is a direct replacement for the tortoise. All the best Tony.
I bought 24 tortoises a while back, so for now I will use them (unless there is a space problems, in which case I will look for an alternative.)
Hi Phil. I believe Tortoise point motors switch the frog polarity, although apparently the connections are not intuitive. This should obviate the need for juicers. OK, so the diamond crossing has no moving parts (i.e, not a slip)?
As you have realised - I can use the tortoise to switch the frog for the points, however the actual diamond has no moving parts, so it is either a frog juicer, or I make assumptions based on how a nearby point is set.
Instead of "black to the back", for a layout that runs in a loop, I recommend thinking of the wire colours by reference to lava: red on the inside, black on the outside.
I always have time to hear your recommendations James :)
Recently done a pair of crossings like this (in OO, C75 electrofrog), looked at a few ways of doing it, went "cheap" in the end, each diamond has a pair of single pole relays (because cheap boards only have single pole ones). crossing has insulating joiners on all rails making it its own electrical section - the software that drives the two point motors (servos in this case) also drives the four relays controlling the crossing. one of the points sets both crossing frogs.
not as robust as what you have as "wrong way" running will cause a short, hopefully the rest of the signalling will help with that.
Tortoise look good, way to bulky for me, and you have them in N.. wild.
nice looking layout, and neatly done boards too
@@aleopardstail there are certainly several ways of doing it. I am surprised I have not seen more folks discussing the various approaches to diamond frogs.
Tortoises are a bit big for n-gauge, but they do just about fit if you plan carefully.
Who said wiring a layout was easy ! ? I had to watch it twice before fully following your reasoning, but got there in the end :) Electronics is easy in comparison :)
Recon I made things harder on myself with my unusual track plan
You are ruining your dining table physically and orthographically. 😂
Oh no! I missed that mistake!