Good ideas never go out of style. Its been 6 years since you posted this. It is still the good information that I was looking for. Now to mount my recessed push - pull controls.
Great video Mike. I just hooked up my DS64s and I really wasn't liking operating them from the controller (2 days ago). Adding push buttons will help greatly. This vid couldn't have been timed better.
Nice idea Mike! Say at 2:20 I noticed something. Please be careful with the drill. We wouldn't want a hole in that "Thanks for Watching" finger. I would have to show another one of your safety videos. This time with a big old bandage on your hand. I slammed a finger in a dump truck tailgate years ago and had a huge white bandage on my finger for a month. The construction company I worked for made me the guy who directed the trucks the whole time. They called me "Pointer" for over a year. LOL! Thanks for the great tips! Cheers, Dan
Thanks Dan, I will try not to. Have had my share of injuries. When I used to race motorcycles back in the late 60's and early 70's , we always used to say "throw your body under it because you can grow new skin but don't have money for new parts" Mike
Ha Ha!!! I know what you mean Mike. You and I both healed a bit faster back in those days, huh? Nowadays, I fall off a breakfast stool and limp around for a week. Dan
Mike, as usual, an excellent video. Have you thought of perhaps adding the track plan with some pin striping to the fascia so that operators could more easily identify the turnouts they are controlling? Perhaps not much of an issue in single turnout locations, but with multiple turnouts in the yard area the visual aid might be an asset.
Hi Mike. Do you think going with an NCE Power Cab along with the Digatrax DS64 would be good for a rookie like me? Let me know what you think. Thanks again Mike. Really good video. It looks better every time I see it! Incidentally, I've noticed that a lot of other peoples videos are soooo hard to follow what they are trying to illustrate. You're the BEST!!
Hey Mike, Have you seen the Touch Toggles and cups from Barrett Hill Shop. They are a really nice system that would replace your PVC cups and mechanical pushbuttons. I use the touch toggle system on my HO scale layout, and I really enjoy them. Everything is plug and play. Thanks, Russ
Mike as always, thank you for sharing and being such an awesome ambassador for the hobby. Question, is there a way to add LEDs to indicate direction of throw of the turnout just above the recessed push buttons?
You could add feeder wires to each branch of the switch to pull power for the LED's to indicate direction. Unless each leg is powered full time. I run DC and my branches are unpowered until switch is thrown.
Hi Mike. If you're just going to use the push buttons instead of using the DCC controller..then I guess you don't need to hook up the second set of wires. Right?
@@N-Scale Thanks Mike! So I didn't realize that the black and red wire was also hooked up to the Kato switch and the DS64 as well! It's going to take some time to get used to all the electrical side of the hobby. I'll just have to go over your videos a couple of times so it sinks in. Lol!!
If you did not want to run the switch power thru the DS 64, could you(me) wire the switches off the power side of a Kato controller instead of using the Kato blue turnout control? Great video Thanks
Mike, you have an unfair advantage, having worked for the phone co. I used film canesters for mine. I had a friend that was military comm. spec. built my control panel in about 20 min.
@@deubee2490 With DC you can not use a single button but you can use a DPDT center off switch in place of the pushbutton. Kato is polarity reversing , not double solinoid. Mike
Hi Mike, I know this video is old but I am wondering how many power supplies you have to use? With todays energy people crying wolf and saying more brown outs will happen. So on your DS 64's how many power supplies do you use? Can you use one power supply to run all your DS 64? Do you have any idea how much electricity you are using and is there ways to cut usage?
Good ideas never go out of style. Its been 6 years since you posted this. It is still the good information that I was looking for. Now to mount my recessed push - pull controls.
Thanks Mike !!
Thanks mike, I have no vice. I have been a good kid most of my life
Thank You Eric.
Mike
Right.
really well done Mike..this one is surely going in my favorites
Thanks Buddy , mine too. LOL
Mike
This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks you!!
Thanks Joe.
Mike
Great video Mike. I just hooked up my DS64s and I really wasn't liking operating them from the controller (2 days ago). Adding push buttons will help greatly. This vid couldn't have been timed better.
Thanks Todd, I liked the idea as well.
Mike
Excellent video! I'm doing the same thing and this answered all my questions.
Thanks Thomas , Mike
Nice idea Mike! Say at 2:20 I noticed something. Please be careful with the drill. We wouldn't want a hole in that "Thanks for Watching" finger. I would have to show another one of your safety videos. This time with a big old bandage on your hand.
I slammed a finger in a dump truck tailgate years ago and had a huge white bandage on my finger for a month. The construction company I worked for made me the guy who directed the trucks the whole time. They called me "Pointer" for over a year. LOL!
Thanks for the great tips! Cheers, Dan
Thanks Dan, I will try not to.
Have had my share of injuries.
When I used to race motorcycles back in the late 60's and early 70's , we always used to say "throw your body under it because you can grow new skin but don't have money for new parts"
Mike
Ha Ha!!! I know what you mean Mike. You and I both healed a bit faster back in those days, huh? Nowadays, I fall off a breakfast stool and limp around for a week. Dan
Great how-to video. Would really like to implement this on my layout in the future. -Mark
Thanks Mark , It works well.
Mike
Great idea Mike I have seen those type of caps in different colors as well in home depot (grey, black and white) awesome idea thanks for sharing
Thanks so much , Mike
Good show Mike, the idea is worth looking into, as you said no accidents....😀
Thanks Jack , Mike
Brilliant workmanship! Thank you, sir.
Thank you very much.
Mike
What a awesome how to video you always have awesome videos keep them coming
Thanks so much Bill, Mike
Great innovation Mike. I like it!!!!!
Thanks Gary, just a re-hash of someone else's idea.
Mike
great "how to" Mike.. thanks for sharing.. vinny
Thanks Vinny , Mike
Thanks Mike , I really like that idea. might have to do that on my new layout.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance
Thanks so much Lance. Give it a try.
Mike
And your using NCE as your base system..
Digitrax Super empire Builder, but any system can use the DS64's.
Mike
With system do you like better or are they the same.. your system or NCE and is your system easy to use
If you want to throw turnouts with the DCC you would want Digitrax but other than the ease of that with Digitrax they all perform well.
Mike
Mike, as usual, an excellent video. Have you thought of perhaps adding the track plan with some pin striping to the fascia so that operators could more easily identify the turnouts they are controlling? Perhaps not much of an issue in single turnout locations, but with multiple turnouts in the yard area the visual aid might be an asset.
I do not want the fascia to look like a billboard.
Thanks , Mike
Hi Mike. Do you think going with an NCE Power Cab along with the Digatrax DS64 would be good for a rookie like me? Let me know what you think.
Thanks again Mike. Really good video. It looks better every time I see it! Incidentally, I've noticed that a lot of other peoples videos are soooo hard to follow what they
are trying to illustrate. You're the BEST!!
Thanks Mark , I would need you to call me. This would be too long to try to answer here.
Mike
looking great nice update
Thanks so much Ger.
Mike
Hey Mike, Have you seen the Touch Toggles and cups from Barrett Hill Shop. They are a really nice system that would replace your PVC cups and mechanical pushbuttons. I use the touch toggle system on my HO scale layout, and I really enjoy them. Everything is plug and play. Thanks, Russ
Thanks , You should do a video.
Mike
Wow Mike, very dangerous way to hold cap in your hand and drill the hole. Might want to put it in a vise.
Not dangerous at all. Do not put your hand over the other side.
Thanks , Mike
Hey Brother great video as always
Thanks so much Super, good to have you.
Mike
Nice explanation Mike. I think I can do that if I was using Digitrax. I use NCE.
Doesn't matter. The DS64's will work stand alone.
Mike
Thanks Mike I’ll have to give it a try.. I can see how it could be useful on the backside of my layou
Thanks Glen , Hope you are well.
Mike
Hi Mike, thank God All is well, and glad Spring is upon us. Hope all is well for you and a Robin.
We are good as well.
Thanks , Mike
Mike as always, thank you for sharing and being such an awesome ambassador for the hobby. Question, is there a way to add LEDs to indicate direction of throw of the turnout just above the recessed push buttons?
No , because the pulse is only momentary.
Thanks , Mike
You could add feeder wires to each branch of the switch to pull power for the LED's to indicate direction.
Unless each leg is powered full time. I run DC and my branches are unpowered until switch is thrown.
I have several SPST 2 pin mini toggle switches for several yard tracks that I would like to kill power to. How do I go about wiring them to my layout?
Tie in one wire of the feed to that track through the switch.
Mike Fifer and the other to the buss? This layout is DCC
@@djray6019 Yes
Mike Fifer keep up the good work!
@@djray6019 Thanks , Mike
Would it be possible to use Touch Toggles from Barrett Hill to control Kato switches with the DS64?
Nicely done and explained Mike. Are you going to put a label above every switch on the facia?
Nope, You need to be in line with the turnout you are operating.
Thanks , Mike
Mike Fifer that’s right. You mentioned that already. I should pay more attention.
I may put posts at the turnouts like I had before just in case one wants to use the throttle to throw them.
Thanks , Mike
Looks good
Thanks William , and functional.
Mike
Hi Mike. If you're just going to use the push buttons instead of using the DCC controller..then I guess you don't need to hook up the second set of wires. Right?
You can not simply use a push button as the Kato turnouts are polarity reversing. NOT twin coil.
Mike
@@N-Scale Thanks Mike! So I didn't realize that the black and red wire was also hooked up to the Kato switch and the DS64 as well! It's going to take some time to get used to all the electrical side of the hobby. I'll just have to go over your videos a couple of times so it sinks in. Lol!!
@@markgershman1563 Thanks Mark. Yep you will surely need some electrical basics.
Mike
If you did not want to run the switch power thru the DS 64, could you(me) wire the switches off the power side of a Kato controller instead of using the Kato blue turnout control? Great video Thanks
Nope, It requires some fancy electrical circuitry.
Mike
Good afternoon, would the push button work for atlas turnouts which are 3 wire?
Nope , It would require 2 push buttons.
Mike
Mike, you have an unfair advantage, having worked for the phone co. I used film canesters for mine. I had a friend that was military comm. spec. built my control panel in about 20 min.
We do what we must , right?
Thanks Bill , Mike
I have a question how long can You leave a power pack running for
Assuming you mean DC, I would think for ever as there is no strain on it until you use it to power something.
Thanks , Mike
will those switches work if wired directly to the turnout using the red and black wires?
Nope. The turnouts are polarity reversing and here , the magic takes place in the Digitrax DS64 circuitry.
Thanks , Mike
bummer for me then. I love the idea of recessing them since i only have space 2 1/2 foot walkway.
The DS64's can be used stand alone as well.
Mike
Can this be done with dc?
I would assume so but you would likely need two buttons , depending on the track used.
Mike
I’m using n scale Kato truck
@@deubee2490 With DC you can not use a single button but you can use a DPDT center off switch in place of the pushbutton. Kato is polarity reversing , not double solinoid.
Mike
Thanks for the information
Hi Mike, I know this video is old but I am wondering how many power supplies you have to use? With todays energy people crying wolf and saying more brown outs will happen. So on your DS 64's how many power supplies do you use? Can you use one power supply to run all your DS 64?
Do you have any idea how much electricity you are using and is there ways to cut usage?
One supply and all daisey chained together. I have no clue on power useage.