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We will have a number of articles on installation coming up on this web site. We've been installing Blue Points™ on a friend's layout--we'll be taking pictures and writing up our experience soon. In the mean time, here is a little information. Our Flex Link™ push-pull tube and hardware packs provide everything you need to connect a Blue Point™ to a knob on your, and allow runs up to 3 feet from the fascia to the Blue Point™. We've also had a number of questions about using the Blue Points™ under 2" thick foam. The simple answer is yes, they work great. The tension and throw adjustment slider provides more than enough range to handle long runs of spring wire. We include .032" diameter spring steel wire with the product, which is quite rigid. You can also slip a brass tube over wire that extends through the foam to provide more power at the throw bar, if needed. InstallationInstallation is very simple. We're in the process of putting together some installation photos an examples, here. New! We just released our new Flex Link™ system for hooking up Blue Points™ to your fascia. These kits include everything you need. SpecsWe've designed the Blue Point™ Turnout Control to operate turnouts in scales from N through O. The electrical contacts are double pole, double throw (DPDT) rated at 5 amps, so they have plenty of capacity to power a frog or just about anything else you'll want to drive.
DPDT Switch Diagram The picture on the right has two diagrams. The left diagram shows the numbering of the contacts (viewed from below), while the right diagram shows how these contacts are arranged electrically. When the switch is in one position, contact 5 is connected to contact 4, and contact 2 is connected to contact 1. Move the switch to the other position and now 5 is connected to 6 and 2 is connected to 3. Typical DCC-Friendly Turnout Wiring And finally, here is a typical wiring diagram for a powered frog found on DCC-friendly turnouts:
There are a number of different designs for tunouts, with the wiring being a little different for some of the tunouts. You can find a lot more information about the different turnouts at this link: Wiring Turnouts. Comparison With The TORTOISE™ Slow Motion Switch MachineWe've had a number of people ask about the price of a TORTOISE™ Slow Motion Switch Machine compared with our Blue Points™, so here is a quick comparison:
"Street price" is often lower than the prices we've given here for both products so you should compare the price at your supplier of choice. We also thought you might be interested in a size comparison, because sometimes size does matter. If you look closely, you'll notice the Blue Point™ has deeper mounting slots, allowing more side-to-side adjustment. Also, the sliding fulcrum has detents to hold the fulcrum in position once you've set it. Finally, a word about the pros and cons of each. There are times when a TORTOISE™ Switch Machine is your best choice, and times when a Blue Point™ is best. If you have a main-line railroad with CTC and need dispatchers to control turnouts, obviously an electrically-operated turnout like a Tortoise would be your best choice. However, for sidings and yards, or a small layout, we think the Blue Point™ would be your best choice. Once you've experienced the feel of throwing a turnout by hand with our Blue Points™, you'll see what we mean. * The TORTOISE™ Slow Motion Switch Machine is a trademark of Circuitron, Inc. Made in the USAAll of the manufacturing of this product is being done here in the state of Washington. We had the molds made about an hour's drive from us and the actual injection molding was done about 45 minutes from here. PricingNote: The prices below are list prices. Street prices will vary.
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After
nearly a year of work, we've finally released our Blue Point™ manual
turnout controllers!
