08-09-2009, 07:26 AM
Neither Peco or Hornby point motors will fit Minitrix points. The mechanism is completely different. Minitrix point motors can be hidden under the baseboard by turning them upside down. When turned upside down the left handed point motor fits right hand points and right handed point motors fit left hand points. You will need to cut holes for the point motors as you lay the track. Leaving it till later will be very difficult.
You must use the correct passing contact switches for changing the points. These give a short pulse of power. Continuous power will burn out the motors in seconds. The switches must be connected to the aux power terminals on your controller. A CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) may be added between the controller and the passing contact switches for more reliable operation if you're using more than two or three point motors.
In place of passing contact switches you can use the 'stud and probe' method. This is where you would have a track schematic board with wired studs placed where the points are drawn. Then you touch the studs with something that looks like a wired pen which completes the circuit.
A small tip. Tidy up the jungle under your layout by taping them down. Use coloured wires to avoid confusion.
See Brian Lamberts website for an illustrated guide to almost everything about model railways. :-)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/">http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/</a><!-- m -->
You must use the correct passing contact switches for changing the points. These give a short pulse of power. Continuous power will burn out the motors in seconds. The switches must be connected to the aux power terminals on your controller. A CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) may be added between the controller and the passing contact switches for more reliable operation if you're using more than two or three point motors.
In place of passing contact switches you can use the 'stud and probe' method. This is where you would have a track schematic board with wired studs placed where the points are drawn. Then you touch the studs with something that looks like a wired pen which completes the circuit.
A small tip. Tidy up the jungle under your layout by taping them down. Use coloured wires to avoid confusion.
See Brian Lamberts website for an illustrated guide to almost everything about model railways. :-)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/">http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/</a><!-- m -->