Controlling point motors with a battery box etc?

[Big Trak]

I’ve been thinking about getting an LGB 12260 Double Slip Switch or 12360 Y Point but didn’t want to go to the expense of getting a dedicated switch box and power supply for the point motors. Is there any other way to control the point motors using a battery box and toggle switch of perhaps an analog speed controller?

Thanks.

 

[playmofire]

I've used two PP3 batteries wire to give 18v and connected to an LGB 51750 momentary switch box to operate points, so the answer is "Yes", but you need the right type of switch.

 

[dunnyrail]

Somewhere in sales a long time back I still have an LGB Switch Box available with 3 out of the 4 switches working..

 

[Big Trak]

I might just replace the point motors with manual switches

 

[dunnyrail]

I might just replace the point motors with manual switches

Looking at what they are you will likely have EPL point motors on them, these are more reliable than the LGB Manual switches that after time go indecisive in operation due to the springs weakening. I would keep the EPL’s on and just use them, this is what I have done with the LGB points on my loft line.

 

[Ralphmp]

If you get the double-slip switch and keep the EPL motors but operate them manually, make sure you use the tie bars on the motors to change points and don’t just move the rails. I had some issues with derailing on mine when i used them manually as the movement of the blades doesn’t always “pull” the EPL over motor fully and the blades had a tendency to move back slightly. Once I’d wired them up to a decoder all has been well.