Hello, Does anyone have a electrical diagram for a O gauge double slip made by Peco. It must be wired for manual operation DCC + DC . I have fitted the manual switches. I have asked Peco , O gauge forum , but even with Peco wiring diagram it still not operational. The slip is totally isolated from the 4 other tracks. No wires underneath the slip have been cut. Any advice would be most welcome. Tony Hubbard
Hi Tony From what I can remember, may work As the blades at each end are connected and if the double slip is in its own section - it can be treated as two points overlaid on each other. So the blades at one end set the polarity of the V at the other end. Doesn't matter if it's DC or DCC. Both V's will need insulated joiners on both rails, and the feed can be taken from the stock rails. If you have different sections feeding the entry roads, I'd suggest insulating all rails and using some form of switching to select incomming and outgoing power sections and operate the double slip as well. This is more of an issue for DC rather than DCC as the double slip stock rails will be connected to the bus supplies. Hope this helps Paul
Paul, Thank you for your response. Mr A Beard a technician at Peco sent me a wiring diagram for manual switching of the slip without the feed wires. This has not worked at all. I have contacted Mr Beard on six occasions . I have wired other Peco points without a issue , but there is something I am missing with the slip. Tony Hubbard
Hi Tony, I have only ever built my own slips so the Peco one is a bit of a mystery mate. Could you post a couple of photos of the top and underside in close up? As Paul_L says, if you treat it as two toe to toe points the wiring is easier to understand. Cheers, Pete.
Hi Tony The rails dots circled are providing the feed wires, each pair are linked to each other and to the micro switch , and from the switch to the V If you have a multimeter, with the power on to the track, check the voltage accross the two stock rails - should give approx 12V for DC and 15V (or greater) AC for DCC. Now with one probe on one stock rail, and the blades set to touch the other stock rail, then move the other probe along the stock rail, blades etc right through to the V. Note any areas where there is no voltage and check they are correctly wired up or connected to the stock rail. If your multimeter has a continuity function (usually resistance setting and will buzz if there is a circuit). You can make sure the micro switch is connected to the correct stock rail. i.e. connect the probe on the stock rail the blades are touching, and you should get a tone if you touch the oppsite V. If no tone move the probe to the other stock rail, if it now sounds then the connections are the wrong way round. If there is still no tone check the micro switch connections, make sure the V is connected to the common terminal, and check the continuity from each terminal of the micro switch to the track. Paul
Paul , I have wired the slip exactly like the diagram, but how is the slip getting it`s power it is totally isolated . I need to add a black and red wire to power the slip surely?. On a turnout the feed wires from the bus are connected at the toe and with it`s micro switch ,it works well. Sorry if this is annoying , but I am not an electrician and I wouldn`t know how to use a multimeter . Tony Hubbard
Hi mate, in the middle of the slip where all the rails meet each side of centre is where the power feed is fitted, black one side red tother. At least thats how mine is wired. Hope that makes sense? Pete.
Hi Tony As Pete says any where on each of the stock rails, for DCC just connect the two bus wires. DC however can be a little more complicated, as you will need to supply the power from the appropriate track section feeds. Paul
Hello, I wonder if anyone could tell me a basic test with the meter ( Pictured ) I forgot I had this and it was free with a magazine . I need to test the continuity of my slip because it still not working. I have a booklet , but I find it difficult to understand. Tony Hubbard
Hi Tony Connect all red connections to Controller +ve and all Black connections to Controller -ve The main track feeds should be wired as above - for initial testing disconnect the feed to each V at the micro switch Use the Resistance setting on the meter. Resistance method set the Meter to 2000K Ohms - I couldn't see if the meter had a continuity setting - shorting the two probes will cause the meter buzzer to sound With the Power off to the layout, with the layout disconnected from the controller, and no stock on the layout, measure the resistance accross the two feed wires that were connected to the controller, it should read M ohms or out of range. Thus no shorts. If ok goto next step. With one probe held on one of the supply wires, touch the other on to one of the stock rails - should give either a very high value (Open circuit), or Zero (short), then do the same to the other stock rail. You should have had One open circuit, and one Short. If both are open circuit, check your wiring from the supply wires through to the track feeds as you have a break somewhere.. Repeat for the other supply wire to the stock rail. Hold one probe on to the Left hand stock rail, now check the connection to all the other black connections, the value should be Zero. Repeat for the red connections If all is ok then Then with one probe on the bottom Black stock rail check that all the rails within the shaded area give a short. Check with the switch rails in both positions. Repeat for the other half. Again all should give Zero Ohms or a short - this is where a continuity checker comes in to its own, you just listen for the buzzer you don't need to look at the meter. Lastly if all is ok then time to check the output from the limit switches With one probe connected to the common output of the micro switch, touch the other probe on to stock rail the switch blades are in contact with, this should be a short, if open circuit the wires on the limit switch feeds will need swapping over. If zero keep the probes in place and switch over the point blades it should go open circuit. Test on the other stock rail then if good connect the common out to the V in the diagram. Repeat for the other end. Hope this helps Paul
Thank you for the information, looks like this might help - I hope. It might be a while before I get to try this out , but I`ll definitely be trying . Usually I would be able to solve these problems but this slip has baffled me. Jackesdad13 - Thank you for your kind offer , Beware though I might just take you up on it!. Good job we are in lockdown!!. Tony Hubbard
Thanks must go to Jackesdad13 who has sorted out my slip. It seemed to be the PL switches not changing the polarity . Don`t understand why because they were wired up properly. Unfortunately I have to use slider switches , so when I change the direction I have to also move one of the slider switches. But it now works properly , time to fire up my diesels!. Tony Hubbard
Glad to have helped mate, everything was wired correctly so I can only surmise the Peco micro switches were the problem. After swapping the first one and the short vanishing from the left frog it was worth swopping the left hand switch if only to eliminate that one. The fact it worked is excellent. Cheers, Pete.
I have never heard of Tam Valley frog switches. I thought that the PL switches that the Peco technician advised me to use would be fine. The layout was tested out today and what a difference using the double slip makes , I can now access the half of my layout. Tony H.
The Tam Valley Frog switches are an American made electronic device which switches the frog polarity automatically as the loco reaches the frog. If the polarity is wrong, the electronics senses and switches it so fast that short circuit cutouts on DCC controllers don't have time to react and cut off the supply. As I use the Lenz DCC system which is very sensitive to short circuits, it's the only device available (as far as I know) that will work with the Lenz system, Gaugemaster's relay controlled units are not fast enough to switch used with Lenz controllers. They're available as single, double and 6 way units. Usual disclaimer, no connection with Tam Valley or suppliers except as a satisfied customer. Keith.