FasTrack block for holiday and carpet layouts
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CandO
Joined: Oct 11, 2010
Topics: 5 Replies: 16
Topics: 5
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What we are going to do here, is drill a hole into the ballast of a piece of FasTrack and install a micro switch to kill power to a siding. This is a way to have an easy isolated block section without added wiring. This is very useful for carpet layouts and Christmas(and other holidays) layouts.
A member of the FasTrack Yahoo! Group posted the idea a while back. I don't want it to eventually get lost so I am putting a post here with pictures. I am currently making a few of these for my Christmas layout so I took some photos.
I purchased some micro switches a few years ago for my control panel. Some are Atlas O and some are from ebay. They are 1.5A 250VAC and are nice and small.
The section of track I am using is one of the small block sections that come with O-60 and O-72 switches...these have roadbed on one side. They can also be purchased separately with roadbed on both sides. These pieces already have a rail break and a wire connecting the center rail on both sides of the break. Normally, if you are using it for a block section, you would remove the wire and supply power to the other side.
In the following photos a stock piece is on the right and the project piece is on the left.
This photo shows the 13/64" hole I drilled in the ballast to accept the micro switch. Hole was made with the drill parallel to the table...
...and the underside...
...in this photo you can see that I removed the wire, cut and soldered each piece to a post on the micro switch while keeping its initial shape...
...now I have the switch in it's hole and the wires plugged into the center rail tabs. The micro switch has been hot-glued in place...
...here's a close-up...
...and here's the ballast side...
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Mark B
Joined: Oct 13, 2011
Topics: 6 Replies: 28
Topics: 6
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Hi CanDO....this is an excellent idea for Fastrack users! Thanks for posting it. Check out my blog pictures under MarkB to my Fastrack customization. MarkB
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CandO
Joined: Oct 11, 2010
Topics: 5 Replies: 16
Topics: 5
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Thanks Mark. It's pretty handy is some situations.
I'll check out your blog.
Progress: