
Electrics – Back To Basics (Part 18) Cobalt Slow Action Point Motors (DC Analogue Version)
Electrics – Back To Basics (Part Eighteen) Cobalt Point Motors – DC Analogue Version
Part eighteen of this back to basics series, we continue our look at the basics of how to wire up a layout. In this article, we follow on our look at DCC Concepts Point Motors, this time it’s the turn of the DC analogue version – Cobalt iP Analogue.
The DCC Concepts Cobalt iP Analogue turnout motor features a sophisticated internal electronic control system that adapts itself to a wide range of power supply voltages. The Cobalt iP Analog cleverly manages its own power usage, by monitoring & drawing power only when it’s actually required. The Cobalt iP Analogue works with voltages ranging from 7volts up to 23 volts and suitable with all scales, which include: T, Z, N, TT, HO, OO, EM, P4, S, O & G.
Like the Cobalt iP Digital, the Cobalt iP Analogue is quiet in operation and very reliable. It has three inbuilt SPDT switches – One is directly “Diode linked” to the drive power inputs for use with computer IO (feedback) or other low power applications. The other built-in SPDT switches are fully independent with higher power handling for point work frog power control or any other switching needs you may require for your layouts.
The Cobalt iP Analogue point motors are for mounting under the baseboard. So like some of the other point motors we’ve coved in this ‘Back to Basics Series’ a hole or slot is required to be drilled/cut under the moving tie bar of the pointwork. These Cobalt point motors can be mounted in two positions under the baseboard, pointing straight down &/or at right angles via an add-on right angle adaptor plate (Part number DCP-RA3). Included in the point motor packs are all the screws for mounting, a double-sided sticky foam pad to help reduce motor resonant noise, an adjustable bracket to increase or decrease the point motor throw, rod bar which likes the point motor to the pointwork tiebar.
Further additional add-on items include Tie-bar ballast stickers with a pre-cut slot to help cover drilled holes in the baseboard, spare foam mounting pads. A value-added pack which includes the aforementioned add-on items as well as the correct size drill bit & spare mounting screws & point motor to point tie bar rod.
A whole range of signal box style point leavers, push-button control, LED’s, wire packs, control panels & power packs also available to give a complete point/signal control system. Visit DCCconcepts Home Page for further details.
- Cobalt iP Analog Point Motor (For traditional DC controlled layouts – Can be used with DCC via additional DCC accessory decoder)
To recap on some of the optional addon items like it’s DCC version brother, these are also suitable for the iP Analogue version. These can be found opposite right & below.
- Right-angled adaptor plates. These allow the point motors to reduce their depth by being mounted flat rather than vertical.
- Add-on switches, LED/button combo switches, LED’s for manual operation & display of point setting status.
Installation & set up
The point motor installation is the same as the Cobalt iP Digital version. The procedure for fitting the Cobalt iP Digital & Cobalt Omega are the same. The photo opposite right shows the digital version point motor but the pack contents for the iP Analougue version naturally has the iP Analougue point motor instead of the digital version. The pack includes the point motor, mounting pad, mounting screws (including one spare screw), Point motor throw adjustment plate, Point motor to point tie bar connecting rod plus mounting rod holding screw.
The next job is then to remove the small point tie bar latching spring as it isn’t needed. On the Peco points, we need to remove the latching spring from the points. A small plastic cover plate needs to be removed to remove the spring. This is held in place by two small metal strips, we’ve highlighted these in the photo opposite right.
Position the switch rails so that they are about halfway on mid-throw, leaving an equal gap between the switch rails & the two outer rails. The point tie bar center should be in the center position, as shown & highlighted in the photo opposite right.
Wiring Up – DC Controlled Layouts
Like the DCC Digital version, the iP Analougue version has solder-free wiring terminals which make connect up with the wires quick & easy. The wiring terminals are as follows:
- Connections number 1 & 2 are for the DC power input, suitable for use with a 12v to 23v power supply. Also works on DCC digital as well, so on DCC a suitable power supply 7v to 23v.
- Connection number 3 is the common for connections 1 & 2. If using this point motor on DCC it can be used for the frog power on the Electrofrog points.
- Connection 4 is Switch 2 Left Terminal.
- Connection 5 is Switch 2 Right Terminal.
- Connection 6 is the common terminal for Switch 2
- Connection 7 is the Left Push Button Terminal.
- Connection 8 is the Common for Push Button Switches
- Connection 9 is the Right Push Button Terminal
The wires as mention are held in place by spring terminals on the point motor. These terminals will accept a wide range of suitable wire sizes. DCC Concepts recommend that you use the heaviest convenient wire size. The wire ends need to be stripped back carefully exposing around 10mm of bare wire. DCC Concepts recommend using the ‘Ring-Strip’ method when stripping & removing the outer insulation material. Twist whilst removing the insulation material, this should ensure that there are no free stray copper wire strands.
To insert the stripped wires into the terminals, use a small screwdriver to push up the yellow spring tab, insert the stripped wire into the connector fully. Then release the yellow spring tab, the wire will be held firmly in place. As shown in the two photos opposite right.
To wire up & power the Cobalt iP Analogue point motor, the diagram opposite shows the basic wiring diagram. The point motor needs to be powered by a regulated DC power supply, 12v to 23v if operating your layout on DC 12v power supply. Or if using these point motors on a DCC controlled layout then the power supply needs to be between 7v to 23v.
In the diagram, you’ll see that the power supply to the point motor has a switch (to operate the point motor) between the transformer & the point motor. From the switch, the two power supply wires go into connection ports 1 & 2 (clearly labelled on the point motor).
Connection port 3 is for use with L.E.D’s.
If you are using Electrofrog Points & want to power the frog (Vee) on the Electrofrog points, you’ll need to use connection ports 4, 5 & 6. The Vee of the frog is wired up to connection port 6. The left-hand rail on the points is wired up to connection port 4, whilst the right-hand rail of the points is wired up to connection port 5.
Connection ports 7, 8 & 9 can be wired up to colour light signal or traditional semaphore signal etc.
Also in the diagram opposite, it’s shown how to wire in optional L.E.D’s (not supplied) for displaying the point status on a mimic panel for example.
If using Electrofrog points such as those made by Peco, the basic wiring is as shown in the diagram opposite right.
If using Insulfrog points, like those from the Hornby & also the Peco Set Track range, then omit the wires from outlets 4, 5 & 6 as they are not needed on insulfrog points.
Power up the layout, & test the point motor. If the point doesn’t through far enough or too little, slide the adjustment bracket on the point motor to adjust the throw. (Move the adjustment bracket up to reduce the throw, move the adjustment bracket down to increase the throw).
LED’s & Interlocking
LED’s & other items such as signals can be wired directly to these point motors. The LED’s can be mounted on to a mimic panel or control panel & thus show which way the points have been set. For the signals, once connected to these point motors will work in sync with the points. These point motors can be also wired up together to create working interlocking like the real thing. Further details about using LED’s & creating working interlocking using these Cobalt point motors can be found over on DCC Concepts website here: https://www.dccconcepts.com/
One Final Item Of Note
On the point motor connections, you’ll notice that there is a yellow label with Switch Wiring Only on it. Only remove this label once the power wirings to terminals 1 & 2 have been fitted. This is to prevent any accidental wiring up of the power to the two wrong terminals. See the photo below (DCC Version shown).
Servicing
The DCC Concepts Cobalt point motors through normal use are recommended to be re-lubricated once every five years. DCC Concepts recommend using Labelle or Nano-Oils, with a small drop being applied to the internal motor bearings & along the gear train. To gain access, unscrew the four screws that hold the body together to remove part of the point motor body shell. The point motors have a lifetime warranty to give you further peace of mind.
Happy Modelling
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