Tortoise-style point motors.

12601 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Busbar, Jan 25, 2010

Vulcan

Discussion Starter · Oct 25, 2008

Hello all,

I'm currently still in the planning stages with my new N gauge layout. I'm looking at which point motors to use this time around and have come across Tortoise motors. Has anyone used these with N gauge, specifically with Peco code 55?

Looking at them, they seem to be pretty enormous. I'm concerned that if they were say, mounted on a scissor crossing in N gauge, there might not actual be sufficient room to get the motors mounted next to each other. Also, I only have a baseboard depth of 5-6cm including the frame - the Tortoises will be hanging out of the bottom of the baseboard won't they? That could make placing the trestles I use to support the layout quite tricky.

I'm planning on having some 22 motors spread over the scenic section of the layout - at around £12 a pop I need to know everything is going to fit and work! Is there an alternative to the tortoise that's more appropriate to N gauge?

Thanks!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

upnick

· #2 · Oct 25, 2008

Hi

Tortoise motors are more protypical in operation but with 22 points to operate on two counts you would be better with either peco motors or seep ones, both being far more economical,

They will fit far neater under the board as well.

Lancashire Fusilier

· #3 · Oct 25, 2008

I beg to differ with the previous advice. a) you can use remote actuation on a tortoise in case things are getting alittle congested and

purchase them in at least 6 or 12 at a time ex US (good UK to the US$) at the moment and they are an exact match for a peco or seep with accessory switch or under board mounting part too. Trust me, I am decidely tight when it comes to multiple purchases however I have proven it! Besides, I would pay a quid or two not to see my points snap over with a loud Thwack anyway!

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Robert Stokes

· #4 · Oct 25, 2008

There are alternatives to the Tortoise motors that work in the same way, i.e. slow action, but are smaller or cheaper or both. The fulgurex (which I have not used) are much smaller and a little cheaper than Tortoise. The Conrad point motor from Germany is much smaller and a lot cheaper (about £5 or less depending on exchange rate). I have used these and they are OK if somewhat delicate. They are unusual in working off AC and having build in diodes. They also use the same sort of switches as Peco types.

I am actually looking to buy ten more of these Conrad motors but don't want to send off to Germany for them. Does anyone know of a place in England where I can get them from? Robert.

Brian Considine

· #5 · Oct 26, 2008

QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 25 Oct 2008, 17:01) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am actually looking to buy ten more of these Conrad motors but don't want to send off to Germany for them. Does anyone know of a place in England where I can get them from? Robert.

AFAIK Conrad have an outlet in the UK - the details are "buried" in their website.

Regarding Peco/Seep v slow action if you want extra reliable switching the Fulgurex ones actually work out less than the Peco ones with the extra decent switches.

Rowan

· #6 · Oct 26, 2008

I have not heard of Conrad and can't seem to find them, any one have a link please, thanks.

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steam-driven boy

· #7 · Oct 26, 2008

Hi, I've been looking at the Hoffman (is this the Conrad under another name?) point motor as I have a similar installation concern on Solsbury Hill.

http://finneyandsmith.co.uk/finneyandsmith/hoffman.htm

The Tortoise does seem to be the unit of choice from comments I've seen posted elsewhere but I intend to try some of these out, if Santa has me on his 'nice' list

If anyone else has any experience of these I'd be glad of a heads-up on that.

Regards.

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Robert Stokes

· #8 · Oct 26, 2008

The Hoffmann does look to be the same as the Conrad but it's about twice the price.

Doug

· #9 · Oct 26, 2008

Take a look at this topic: http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=979

I've tried the Conrad motors and find them a little too fast and tricky to install. They are only about 7 Euros each.

I prefer the Tillig motors that have options for frog polarity and control panel lights.

Robert Stokes

· #10 · Oct 26, 2008

The speed of conrad point motors, like the speed of any of the slow action type, can be controlled by altering the voltage supplied to them. I also found them too fast when given 12 to 16 volts. However, at about 7.5 volts they are quite a bit slower and quieter. I have a plug-in AC to AC transformer which has a control to alter it from 3V to 12V in steps of 1.5V.

Doug

· #11 · Oct 27, 2008

QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 26 Oct 2008, 23:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The speed of conrad point motors, like the speed of any of the slow action type, can be controlled by altering the voltage supplied to them. I also found them too fast when given 12 to 16 volts. However, at about 7.5 volts they are quite a bit slower and quieter. I have a plug-in AC to AC transformer which has a control to alter it from 3V to 12V in steps of 1.5V.

That's a good idea. I have a 16 volt bus that I use for points. Perhaps I could set up another lower voltage point bus to use some of the Conrad motors that I now have spare.

Brian Considine

· #12 · Oct 27, 2008

We have a few Fulgarex on SL - running at around 10v - much better speed & just about audible.

Robert Stokes

· #13 · Oct 27, 2008

Doug, if you have any Conrad point motors that you no longer want, then I will be happy to pay £3 each for them.
Cheers, Robert.

jasp

· #14 · May 8, 2009

Conrad point motors are available to order direct from Conrad www.conrad.com and click on the GB flag. They are currently £6.95 each or £49.90 for 10 less 10% first order plus £4.95 postage making a total of just under £50 - sounds pretty good value to me
Jim

G

· #15 · May 8, 2009

QUOTE (N Gauge James @ 25 Oct 2008, 11:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Looking at them, they seem to be pretty enormous. I'm concerned that if they were say, mounted on a scissor crossing in N gauge, there might not actual be sufficient room to get the motors mounted next to each other. Also, I only have a baseboard depth of 5-6cm including the frame - the Tortoises will be hanging out of the bottom of the baseboard won't they? That could make placing the trestles I use to support the layout quite tricky.

Hiya

You can mount them sideways and remotely using these

Remember to be truly prototypical not all point motors in the real world are slow acing like a tortoise. Some, such as the westinghouse EP ones do smak the point blades around with a very audible bang!

HTH

Jim

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Robert Stokes

· #16 · May 8, 2009

Thanks Jim. I did order direct from Germany a few weeks ago. With the exchange rate not in Britain's favour they cost me £60 for ten including postage. They arrived very quickly; only two days later if I remember correctly. Then another ten arrived the next day! It may have been my mistake and I clicked the order twice or their mistake. I decided not to try to send them back. I may be able to use some on signals and will keep the others for "one day".

Robert.

Rowan

· #17 · Dec 17, 2009

QUOTE (jim s-w @ 8 May 2009, 19:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hiya

You can mount them sideways and remotely using these

Remember to be truly prototypical not all point motors in the real world are slow acing like a tortoise. Some, such as the westinghouse EP ones do smak the point blades around with a very audible bang!

HTH

Jim

Hadn't seen those before Jim . Cool!

I wonder if there are any issuse with the distance betwween the motor and the acuator,( flex ?).

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Busbar

· #18 · Jan 25, 2010

Conrad have reduced the price of their switched point motors to £3.95 each from www.conrad-uk.com

Dave

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