Fulgurex (Point Motors)
Looking to make a layout using DCC but I also with to use Fulgurex point motors or tortoise ones. Does anyone know if I can use the above point motors in a DC layout? A mate at my local club said that they may only work on a conventional layout.

AFAIK use a non-coil accessory decoder, I bought one from Lenz for the Conrad turnout motors.

Tony, on my layout, controlled by DCC, I use Fulgurex / Lemaco pointmotors. A special decoder from Littfinski is used. M-DEC-DC. Over the motorcontacts a 1nF condensator has been used together with 2 5.1 Z-diodes for the 16VAC. The site of this firm that specialises in digital switching solutions: http://www.ldt-infocenter.com/ go to Anschlussbeispiele Motorweichendecoder M-DEC and there you will see 3 different solutions to connect Fulgurex / Lemaco motors. Browsing through the site you will also find decoders for Tortoise motors. There is some limited info in english I am switching with an oldfashioned switchpanel with scaled down switchlevers. This works very well. It is even possible to set up interlocked points and signals. Jacq

Tony, You certainly can, it's no problem at all, as Tim says. The current Lenz accessory decoder can drive slow-mo DC point motors very easily. A couple of diodes are necessary to get them moving in the right direction. Even on the older accessory decoder there were small, cheap modules available which go between the decoder and the point motor. It'd be worth quickly giving Mackays a call to confirm - they're very helpful and I wouldn't be surprised if the information you need isn't supplied with the accessory decoder itself. You may need to make a programming change to the accessory decoder to lengthen the running time, but it's not too tricky. I'd caution the use of Fulgurex point motors though, IMHO they're noisy and not hugely reliable. The Tortoise is a stunning piece of kit though quite deep unless you buy or make mountings to fit them on their sides. Jacq, A typically OTT solution, as we've come to expect ;-) Steph

Why not go the other way and use Peco low-current turnout motors with the new microswitch. It is easy to install, very reliable and cheaper but you must ask for the pin extension when buying them, it is free from Peco. Here is a photo of mine, it took about 5mins to install and works perfectly. http://www.altezeitgruppe.com/Peco_Motor.jpg The cheapo Roco decoder works perfectly with both Lenz and Roco systems and you will save a bundle on the total package. The downside is that you will be an outcast from your club as Peco has absolutely no snob value whatsover. :lol: My 0.02p's worth

Tim, They're also noisy, violent and unreliable... On exhibition layouts we treat them as 'consumable' items. My 0.01p worth - which, you'll note, makes my comment half the price of Tim's! :wink: :shock: :D Steph

The Lenz decoder for motor driven turnout motors is the LS150, it drives six turnouts. Costs about £34.00 from MacKays

I totaly agree with Tims comments regarding Peco motors, I use SEEP with the integral spring & switch, which with a simple mod means no reliance on blade contact for current flow. But if I go Digital, Must I fit de-coders to points, or can probe/stud or push buttons be used? a simple yes or no answer will surfice, as internett acess in this part of Africa is restricted to power availabilty! So surfing lots of web site is not on at the moment. (And no I haven't moved Somerset! But work takes me to the Less nice parts of Africa, and other places you only go if some one else is paying!)

Hi Trevor, The simple answer is no you don't need to. I use digital for train control and diode matrix for route selection. Cheers John

Trevor, Good old Peco studs and probe served Pottendorf and Schleching through 25+ exhibitions without failure. The cost was less than £5.00 for the studs, probe and mimic board (white melamine) Again, no snob appeal and very little street cred amongst the finescale and techno-geek community, there again it works 24/7.

Tim, I agree with you, but personally I do not like the stud and probe method, I prefer push button switches. That being said, for a simple Station (say 10 points and 6 signals) I would use diode matrix's for route control. Above that you can have some issues with planning the diode matrix. I have one matrix that controls 8 points and 6 signals. It has about 50 diodes in it and it was a lot of work to build. In hindsight, I do believe that I would have been better to put digital decoders on all the points and signals and then used a pc for the routing. Who cares about snob appeal, its about functionality. My NZD 10 cents worth (that about 3 pence and 5 cents EUR) the smallest coin in NZ John

I am that techno-geek, all the turnouts on Grafenwalde are digital :oops: Tim