R/C servo for turnout - Which brand is the better??

after reading this article and the issue 3 about using the servo to command turnouts, it seems to me that I have two choices: Ths ANE Models or the TAM products. It seems to me that the TAM are cheaper but I can be wrong, so what are your opinion about on or the other brand??

Thanks for your comments,

J. constantin / switzerland

Which brand?

A good question and one I would be interested in hearing the answer too also. I was under the impression that Jeff was using something from Tan Valley.  Wondering...

Using Peco turnouts

Peco turnouts (nscale) have a spring that keeps the points tightly to the rail when moved by hand.  These are removed for automation and stall motors keep constant pressure on the wire thus accomplishing the same thing.  Am I correct in assuming the servo holds its position and also keeps the point rails tight?

ANE and Peco

You are correct about the modifying of the over center spring on the Peco turnouts.

The spring doesn't have to be completely removed, just unclip one end of it so that if you want to replace it at any time in the future, you can just clip it back and not have to worry about "where did i put those clips"?.

The pressure that you apply  to the blade contact with the stock rail by using the control buttons will always stay the same until such time that you want to change it by once again altering the setting with the buttons.

Bought TAM - haven't installed.

My model railroading came to a complete halt over December as other requirements grabbed my time.

I've got the TAM product and know where I want to install it, just haven't gotten the time. Same with alternate installations of the ANE servo.

LIFE!

There goes life interrupting the train schedule again! )

ANE and PECO

Tom - thanks for the hint about the clip!  I have about 40 of these servo's to install as soon as I finish laying the track,

More on servo installation

If you are using the servo method of controlling your turnouts and wish to use the standard tortoise style such as the big hole under the turnout that has to be drilled before fixing them into position, fine, BUT if the turnouts are already in place and even if they are ballasted, you can use the servos - no problem!!.  It only requires a small hole to be drilled to allow the control wire to be run up from the servo which in this case is used as a crank.

This method involves no disruption to the already laid turnout and also no large holes.  Have a look at this site  http://www.nmra.org.au/Hints/Servo/servo.html  for another slant on installation and if used in conjuction with the report above from Jeff, you will have no problem at all.

404 error

Tom,

Can you give us a better URL for the NMRA reference.  The one you posted (and a few variations of it that I tried) comes up error.

edit:  I then tried http://www.nmra.org.au  and got the site. 

Selected "Hints" on the left menu, the "servo", and got to here:   http://www.nmra.org.au/Hints/Servo/servo.html

Go figure.

edit #2:  The two URL's look the same, but Tom's gives me a 404 error, and mine works. 

Leave springs in Peco

I don't know which scale athers are using, but I model in "N". Personally I have chosen to leave the Peco springs in place as designed to keep the points firmly against the stock rail, but more importantly to keep the points tight into the point hinge area.

Easily accomplished with Tortoise, just need to adjust properly. With servos I would expect you have more power, and definitely more adjustment, but I haven't installed any yet.

Peco springs

The power of the servo is more than adequate to throw a peco turnout with a spring in place and I have tried the ANE units with a heavier gauge# wire from the servo crank to the turnout blade.  They worked fine.

The thing of difference between the ANE servo system and the Tortoise is that the throw distance of the servo is infinitly adjustable where as as far as I know the tortoise is full throw each direction.  I have seen the tortoise machine break the throw bar on a beautifully hand-made turnout and also a set of Atlas Customline until the owner before pulling the turnout motor off and binning it, used a very light gauge# bronze wire with enough bend to restrict the power on the throw bar of the turnout.

If you has looked at the Hints link on the Aussie NMRA web site you will notice that the control wire in one of the photos can be seen on the off side of the turnout and a slide switch on the other side of the throw bar and it not only throws the turnout, but also the slide switch.

My ANE servo units are all throwing hand built FastTrack turnouts and I get piece of mind knowing that I am only applying the amount of pressure to the blade that I WANT!!

Like all modellers, you will always find people who fall in love with one particular item and in this case it isn't a case of ANE versus Tortoise or any other system as each have their own plus and minus features.  I personally choose ANE and for my own reasons, of size and adjustability.

Throw can be adjusted

You adjust the throw by adjusting the  folcrum of the wire that extends up from the tortoise. The closer to the turnout the folcrum is the shorter the throw. Its a little bit of a trial and error thing..

Chris

Great followup to previous article on using R/C servos

Thanks for more "how to" info on using R/C servos as switch machines.  Definitly an aproach to consider if (when?) I am able to start work on my 2-deck short line for turnouts on the upper desk.  Torrtoises take up too much room!