The Amazing Tortoise Buddy. So Simple and Functional, It's Brilliant!
- Wires Directly to Track to Power Tortoise
- Compatible with Any Type of Track Power, Compatible with DCC, not DCC Controlled
- Screw Terminal Connections for LEDs and SPDT, DPDT Switches
- Incorporates Acclaimed Auto Throw™
- It is the Simplest, Easiest, Fastest and Most Reliable Way to ...
... Get Your Tortoise into Action with Full Control and Lighting Features
Here are just a few of the many great options.
Direct Connect
Uses Tortoise connector.
Self Powered
Connects to track to power the Tortoise.
Auto Throw
Automatically sets points for an approaching train.
The Tortoise Buddy's Great Features
- Direct wire connection or plug-in connection to Tortoise™
- "Self Power" input connection from track for all normal track voltages ranging from 7 to 28V; AC, DC, DCC
- Incorporates onboard status LEDs indicating power in and normal or reverse position of switch track points
- Screw terminal connections for additional panel mount LEDS or to control block signals
- Direct wire connections for manual point control using DPDT, SPDT electronic switches or block detection type inputs
- Provides exclusive Auto Throw™ feature that automatically positions switch track points when a train is approaching.
- Incorporates additional output connections to another Tortoise
The Tortoise™, the Tortoise™ Logo and the Tortoise™ graphic are trademarks of Circuitron, Inc. of Romeoville, Il. They and all photos of the Tortoise™ are used with permission. The Tortoise Buddy™ is a product of DCC Specialties, which is in no way affiliated with Circuitron, Inc.
Tortoise Buddy Installation Information: 8/12/13
Features
- Compatible with DCC, DC, and AC track power systems
- Powered directly from track or using dedicated AC , DC, or DCC voltage bus
- Plugs directly onto Tortoise
- All solid state power routing, no relays to fail
- All Tortoise contacts available to user with solder holes or optional screw connector
- On-Board LED indicates when the Buddy is powered
- On-Board LEDs indicate Tortoise position
- Outputs available to directly connect LEDs (no resistor required) for panel display or signals
- Connect up to 4 Tortoise to a single Buddy to lock switch positions together (e.g. double crossover)
- Control point position with a SPDT switch or dual momentary push buttons
- Auto-Throw will correct a misaligned switch when a train approaches against the point position
Installation Directions
Power Connections
Determine your power source. It can be DC, AC, or DCC. Simply connect the two power source wires to J2-1 and J2-2. They can be connected either way, the Buddy doesn’t care. In most cases, the easiest power source is the nearby track bus. With most DC and AC voltage control systems, the Buddy will get enough voltage from the track before you can detect any train movement, but check this out with your system. If there is not enough track voltage at low speeds to operate the Buddy (actually the Buddy will work, but the Tortoise may not get enough voltage) or if you want to operate switches when the track voltage is 0, then you will need to provide a separate power source. Note, however, that if you plan to use Auto-Throw, then the Buddy MUST be connected to the same track voltage as the switch that it is controlling. If you are not using Auto-Throw, all of your Buddies can operate from a single common power source if you aren’t using the track.
Control Connections SPDT
If you are using a SPDT (single pole double throw) switch to control the points, connect the common center pin to J7-3. Now connect one remaining contact to J7-2 and the remaining contact to J7-4.
The Tortoise will now follow the position of your SPDT switch. Note that for the same position of the Tortoise, the points could be Clear or Throw depending on the switch and how it is installed. Connecting J7-4 to J7-3 will place the Tortoise control arm to the right when viewed as installed on the layout (i.e. base up). This is also the position that the Buddy will place the points when you turn on the layout. You will need to DCC 2 decide if this is Clear or Throw. If you get it wrong, just flip the SPDT switch 180 degrees. DO NOT common together wiring from different Buddies as this can cause a short.
Push Buttons
If you are using push buttons, use momentary normally open (N.O.) ones. Connect one between J7-1 and J7-2 and the other between J7-3 and J7-4. If you want to use just three wires, connect one terminal from each button together and follow the SPDT instructions. The common between the two buttons goes to J7-3. Note that for the same position of the Tortoise, the points could be Clear or Throw depending on the switch and how it is installed. Pushing the button connected to J7-4 will move the Tortoise control arm to the right as viewed when the Tortoise is install (i.e. base up). This is also the position that the Buddy will place the points when you turn on the layout. You will need to decide if this is Clear or Throw. If you get it wrong, just flip the position of the two push buttons on their mounting point. DO NOT common together wiring from different Buddies as this can cause a short.
LEDs
The Buddy is designed to directly drive external LEDs that can be used for position display at a control point or to operate signals on the layout that indicate point position. The LED connected with its positive lead to J4-4 and its negative lead to J4-3 will light when the Tortoise control arm is to the right when viewed as installed on your layout (base up). You will need to decide which color to use for this LED depending on your switch installation. The remaining LED has its positive lead connected to J4-2 and its negative lead connected to J4-1. The two negative LED connections can be tied together and both connected to J4-3 to limit wire runs to three wires. DO NOT common together wiring from different Buddies as this can cause a short.
Tortoise Contacts
All of the contacts on the Tortoise connector are brought to J3. The pin numbers on J3 match the contact pin numbers on the Tortoise. If you are connecting multiple Tortoises together in a gang, you connect J3- 1 to pin 1 of the following Tortoise and J3-8 to pin 8 of the following Tortoise. In this configuration, the two Tortoises will match each other’s position. If you want a following Tortoise to reverse the position of the Buddy Tortoise, simple wire pins 1 and 8 opposite to the above directions.
Installation Positioning
When the Tortoise Buddy is plugged into the Tortoise there may be too much clearance from side to side between the Tortoise Connector and the Tortoise Buddy plug. Shims such as a flat toothpick can be added or you can visually align the contacts. In any case, ensure that the contacts on the Tortoise Buddy connector align with the contact surfaces of the Tortoise connector. The figure to the right shows how to add shims to the Hare connector to reduce the amount of play when the Hare is mated to the Tortoise.
Contacts from the Tortoise
The switch contacts in The Tortoise are brought out to connector J3 on the Tortoise Buddy. If you want access to these contacts for your own secondary functions, you can solder the wires directly to the printed wiring board. The table on page 3 shows the relationship between connections and the Tortoise connector numbers 3
Auto Throw
Auto-Throw will automatically align the points to the incoming train direction preventing an accident (and a short circuit) in the event that your switchman has messed up his job. First, you need to make trigger rails. These are lengths of isolated rail in each of the two frog rails (Clear and Throw). In most cases, they can be any convenient length. If you are operating a DC controlled layout, the trigger rail in the Clear direction from the frog must be longer than your longest engine. Now use the Tortoise contacts to route power to these isolated rail sections. When the points are clear, the Clear frog trigger rail should be powered and the Throw frog trigger rail should be open circuit. Moving the points to throw, the Throw trigger rail should be powered and the Clear trigger rail should be open. Get this working first and run an engine through in all directions to make sure your power routing is correct. Now connect the Clear trigger rail to J6-2 and the Throw trigger rail to J6-1. Set the points clear and run an engine in on the throw direction. When the engine hits the trigger rail, the points should move to align with the engine and the engine should then continue through the switch. Try the same thing from the clear direction with the points thrown. Again, the points will align when the engine hits the trigger rail. (Note: for DC layouts, the engine will need to completely occupy the trigger rail before the points move).
Tortoise Buddy Layout
Approx Size is approx 2”x 3” similar to as shown. Connector locations are approximately as shown.
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DCC Specialties