Skill Level: Simple wiring - fascia controller just plugs in. Connects to DCC bus and may require soldering to stall motor depending on type.
The Turtle Stall Motor Driver and Accessory Decoder - Run a Tortoise with a TVD Fascia Controller or DCC
Drives stall motors including TortoiseTM as well as SwitchMasterTM, MP1, MP5 Switch Motors, CobaltTM and almost any other 6-12V geared motor.
Speed/Torque Adjustment - This allows you to set the speed of stall motors like the Tortoise or to use just about any 6-12 voltage motor as a stall motor by lowering the voltage to the point where they just move and hold the points.
Local Control and Indication - The Turtle has a port for a Tam Valley Depot Fascia Controller (see below) or a Barrett Hill Touch Triggers (available from Barrett Hill). Power with DCC or with 12-18VDC.
Remote DCC Control - The Turtle can be activated by DCC switch/accessory commands. Setting the address is simple. Press the Address button and then issue the switch command you want it to respond to in the future.
Local Lock Out - You can use a DCC command to lock out the local fascia controller. This allows you to use the Turtle on CTC controlled layouts where a central operator can control the access to a turnout.
Feedback - The S pin on the controller can be used for 5v logic feedback.
Relays - Need more contacts or isolated contacts? Add our 5V relay to the controller port (see below).
Arduino - You can use the Turtle with an Arduino. Send a 100ms pulse to toggle the state. You can read the port back to determine the state.
Turtle Stall Motor DCC and Local Control Driver Board This item includes board and mounting kit. For local control you will also need a Fascia Controller (see below). For connecting to a motor the options are to use the jumper wires below, your own wires soldered to the output pins, or a servo extension cable. The MP1 motor requires a 3-wire connection so the servo cable is a good option. The jumper wires connect directly to the the M1 and M2 output pins on the board. The wires can be plugged in to each other to extend the distance beyond 12". The Turtle w/ Fascia Controller and a Tortoise draws about 10 mA (0.01 A) of power.
TURT01 $15.95 USD
Specifications
Size - 1.15" x 1.25" (29mm x 32mm)
Max Power Supply Voltage - 20V
Max Motor Drive Current - 1A
Max LED Drive Current - 20mA
Max Load Controller Port 5V pin - 100 mA
Change in lockout address - as of Aug 2017 the lockout address is the base address + 1000. Previously it was +1. The change has been made to allow easier integation with existing DCC address spaces. Consult your documentation to see which version you have.
Deluxe Turtle Package - Turtle with Fascia Controller and Accu-Lites SNAPS Tortoise Connector
Deluxe package includes a Turtle, a Fascia Controller with LED colors of your choice, and a SNAPS wiring connector that plugs directly in to the bottom of Tortoise switch machine. The SNAPS is manufactured by Accu-Lites. We also include two 12" jumper wires that plug in to the Turtle and the SNAPS. The Fascia Controller comes with a 12" wire that plugs directly in to the Turtle. No soldering is needed to install the a turnout with this package. If purchased separately the package would cost about $24.50.
TURFCSNAPS $23.95 MSRP
Choose LED color from menu above Add To Cart button
Available online and direct from TVD only .
Jumper Wires for simple wiring of the Turtle - also see Servos and Accessories Page for more info and the M-M and F-F types.
Close-up of how jumper wires connect for motor power.
Close-up showing speed being changed on left with screwdriver and the Fascia Controller port on the right. Blue block is DCC/DC connection. (Small slotted screwdriver may work better .)
Ruler shown for scale
12" Jumper Wires for Pin Headers and Terminal Blocks (Pack of 40 male-female rainbow colored wires)
These handy wires have pre-crimped female connectors (F) that mate with the gold header pins used on many of our boards or male pins (M) that can fit in terminal blocks or act as extensions. They come with square plastic shrouds that prevent accididental shorts. You can get them in 3 varieties M-F, M-M and F-F. The M-F are particualarly nice because they plug in to one another to extend for a longer run. They come in rainbow colors with a repeating pattern of 10 colors. A total of 40 wires come together in a bundle. They are easily pulled apart so they can be used in groups or one at a time. At this price they are just 15 cents each. They are 30cm in length which just shy of 12".
JMF001 $6.00 USD
Fascia Controllers for the Turtle - also see Fascia Controllers Page for more info and options
Bicolor Fascia Controller for Micro Singlet, QuadPIC, QuadLN, Turtle and Octo III Plug the fascia controller in to our servo controllers to both actuate the board and to indicate its status.
There are 4 optional colors available. The controller has one LED Red and the other Green, when the button is pushed the turnout will throw and the Red and Green LEDs reverse.
FCB020 $4.50
Y extension The Y extension can be used with the fascia controllers to provide two control points for one switch.
Y cables can be used to connect more than one fascia controller to a single input.
12" Y-cord Y cables are used to attach two or more fascia controllers to one output. Pressing the button on either controller will throw the turnout and the LEDS on both units will change to indicate the direction.
SRX003 $3.25 USD
Crossover Fascia Controller
Crossover Fascia Controller with 4 mounting screws and 2 cords.
XFC001 $7.50 MSRP
How to use Turtle to drive a double crossover.
Remote 5V DPDT Relay with Y Cable for Controller Port
A DPDT relay for using on a Y cable in conjunction with a fascia controller. (Will also work without the fascia controller.) Has a 6-pin connector block to simplify wiring. High-sensitivity coil requires 30 mA. The contacts are rated 1 Amp at 24VDC. [Can also be used without the Octopus - red wire, 5V, black wire, ground, white wire, signal (0V = OFF, greater than 1.4V is ON).] Comes with a 12" Y cable - extra length can be added with servo extensions.
