Converting atlas switch’s/turnouts for use with railpro?

[carpediem4570]

Good Evening One-And-All:

I have finally made room so I can start building a small layout.   Have been collecting track and switch’s for the last 30 years.

Although my switch’s are old, they are like new condition.  The switch’s are the Atlas #850, left hand and #851, right hand, code 100, remote snap switch’s.

Do I need to do anything to these switch’s to be able to use them with my railpro converted steam and diesel locomotives?  Can I run the rail pro system but continue using dc power packs to run the switch’s using the included toggle switch?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Max

 

[Espeelark]

Howdy Max!

Congrats on getting started on building a layout! Once you see those RailPro engines kicking cars around you won't be sorry you put the effort in!

W/regard to your Atlas turnouts, there isn't anything unique to RailPro that would be an issue with using them.
The issue you may have is if the frogs in those turnouts is powered or unpowered. I am not familiar with Atlas turnouts and don't know if they are "DCC friendly". Even though RailPro isn't a DCC system, the frogs can still be an issue. Depending on your locos and and how many wheels pick up power, they could stall out as they cross over the frog. It is best if you have powered frogs, or, "DCC friendly" turnouts.
From pictures of those turnouts on the web, the frogs appear to be plastic/unpowered.
This forum isn't the best place for a question about Atlas turnouts. You would probably be better off asking about them over in the Model Railroad Hobbyist (MRH) Forum, or some other general model railroading forum.

To your other question, sure, you can use a straight DC power pack to run the switches using the included toggle switch.

[carpediem4570]

Espeelark, thank you for your input.

I’m still trying to get my head wrapped around these new control systems.  It’s a far cry different from the stuff I played with as a child 55 years ago. 

And thank you for pointing out railpro is not dcc.  I understood however, if one wired the layout in dcc, as opposed to dc, it would be safe to run my railpro converted engines.

Kind regards,
Max

[faithie999]

What the railpro modules want to see is 15v dc on the rails.  you can supply that from your DCC system (I think!) but also with a railpro power supply, or as many of us have done, with a good quality 15v dc power supply.  I use a MeanWell 15v power supply, and I wired in a railpro circuit breaker.  the meanwell power supply does the job just fine, at a much lower cost than the railpro power supply.

Ken