Kato No 6 switch question

[eja]

I don't want to use the Kato "Big Blue Box"  to operate my Kato switch machines.   I found that Mike Fifer has a good tutorial showing how to wire up a momentary DPDT toggle switch that can be used instead..

What I can't seem to find is how to actually power them.  This will be a DCC layout.    Can I use the constant DC output from an old MRC power pack?  Use an old wall wart power supply or what?

What voltage and amperage do these things require?

Thanks in advance for your help .....

eja

[reinhardtjh]

The Kato Unitrack switch machines are DC.  To throw the switch you apply a momentary pulse of voltage of one polarity or another. This is how the DPDT toggle works.  Yes, you can use the constant DC output of an old power pack or wall wart as the source.  Just make sure it's DC not AC.  The Kato source is around 12v (non-regulated) so anything in that neighborhood should work.  Current draw is in a short pulse so capacity should not be a problem.

NScale.net has a thread on making cheap Kato switch controllers.
http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?23608-Homemade-Switch-Controllers-For-Atlas-Peco-Kato-amp-Tomix

George Stillwell (GRSJr@att.net) on the Yahoo Kato Unitrack group will email you a circuit for a switch machine controller that uses an RC (resistor/capacitor) to provide a short pulse with a plain pushbutton (or two) which avoids the problem of the momentary contact switch burning out the coil if you forget to let go.

Ken Stapleton makes a kit that does roughly the same thing (although a bit more complicated) http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/751D.HTM

Ron Paisley has another similar circuit  http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/ToggleSingle.html

There were a couple threads on the Atlas board but those are gone now. 

[eja]

Very helpful - thanks

[Carolina Northern]

I highly recommend Ray's ( he doesn't go by his given name George) circuit. I have 26 0f them on the Carolina Northern.
Drop him an E-mail and he'll send you a neat PDF with numerous variations and suggestions for use.
Inexpensive and zero chance of burning out a coil. All momentary schemes involve that risk. Just hold it too long - no more coil.
I ran all the switches on my layout with an old wall wart - 12 DVC 300 ma.
Give it a try.

Don