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I just finished a project to simplify the wiring in the yard area of my layout where I want to be able to use toggle switches on my control panel to turn on and off power to the different tracks. I use DCS, and the goal of the project was to create a board with 6 relays that would require only one pair of wires coming from the output of the TIU and could then distribute power to six different blocks of track through the relays. The board also has a few extra outputs to distribute power to blocks of track that are always on. Here is a picture of the finished project:

terminal block relay combo 

 

The purple and gray wires on the right are from the TIU. The 6 pairs of red/black wires on top go to the track sections controlled by the relays. The red wire on the left is +12v DC for the relays, and the 6 black wires are DC ground from the toggle switches on the control panel. The red and black pair of wires on the right goes to an “always on” block, and the empty terminals on the bottom of the board are extra outputs not controlled by relays.

 I’ve been testing it for a couple of days and everything is going well. My DCS signal is a little better than I was getting with my previous setup using an MTH terminal block and separate relays. I would be interested in your thoughts or suggestions about this project.

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Last edited by johnf
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I have done something very similar to what you have done, only slightly different in the method and wiring. It's really pretty close to what you have though. Yours looks a bit more elegant than mine and is also a bit more compact. I don't have any expansion terminals for more spurs either, more relays would have to be added on my setup. I will try to explain it, apologies in advance it it doesn't entirely make sense.

I had a problem with some Toggles with LEDs. When the switch was on everything was fine, but with the switch off the common would backfeed to the hoot terminal of the track that was off. This was all well and good until you forgot to flip a switch and ran a train on to the dead siding causing a short and blowing the breaker. After considerable head scratching I finally figured it out.

I then added relays as you have, but I used individual 12 vdc ice cube relays on din rail mounted next to my MTH terminal block. I already had the relays and din rail. I didn't have far to re-route the wires so I used a 12dc wall wart to power the switches and relays and just ran the track power hot though the Com & NO of the relay. Everything is all working properly now and has been for a few years now. This happened a while back.

Anyway I didn't make a wiring diagram (probably should have), but my setup is very similar to yours with the exception of no main block power being used, that is still all like it was before the glitch. The only thing I have on the relays is the yard spurs where trains are parked when not out on the mains. The spurs (when on) share power with one main being fed from a PH-180 via my TIU. I really never had signal problems, even when the spurs were just powered by the switches. The spurs and switches are totally isolated now so the signal should be about as good as it can be.

I have considered replacing the ice cube relays with one of those multi relay boards for Arduinos from ebay, but it's all working and I just haven't done it. It would make things a bit more elegant and closer to yours as well, but it's under the layout so there it sits.

Last edited by rtr12

Thanks! I think you have just given me another reason to leave my relays alone.   The relays I had/have are fairly good quality commercial relays. Probably still made in China, but their sockets and screw terminals are quite nice and hold the relay and wires very well and have a couple of other nice features. Screw terminals would easily take #14 wire (and probably #12) with no problem. I think they are rated at 12 amps.

Only drawback is that they were probably about $8-$9 each total, for relay and socket (not including DIN rail), IIRC. Before I retired, my employer used these a lot for commercial work so I knew they held up well and lasted a long time. I suppose another drawback is also size, they are a bit larger than most of the stuff we use for our trains. 

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