[John Webb]

James - most readily available rotary switches have twelve contacts so you end up with:
2 pole 6 position
3 pole 4 position
4 pole 3 position
as the variations you are most likely to come across. The 3pole 4position is the one that will do what you want to do.

If your controllers are all independent of each other, ie each has its own transformer or winding on a transformer powering it, you can save a lot of wiring by using the 'Common Return' system. In this all the 'inner' rails (say) of each ring of track are linked together and connected to one output terminal of each controller also connected together. The remaining output of each controller goes to the switch for each section and a single wire runs to the outer rail (say) of that particular section. This cuts the amount of wire and connections by nearly half compared to running a pair of wires to each separate section.

Regards,
John Webb

 

[John Webb]

Dear Richard,

I note your comments with interest, as always. I prefer the use of a 'common return' because it cuts down the potential for faults by approximately halving the number of connections and wire runs. Also with running two wires to each section you have the additional potential for accidently reversing polarities and also need a lot more insulating fishplates....

But each to his/her own choices!

Regards,
John