Servo Control System

SCB4

Our Four Servo Control Base

SCB8

Our Eight Servo Control Base

Get RC model servos to do your bidding! Small model radio-control type steering motors are a great way to operate turnouts and create animation. These Servo Motors are an inexpensive, flexible alternative to traditional switch machines, and the best way to add animation to your layout.

Touching each Toggle moves a servo from one position to another. A second touch moves it back. Each servo moves to unique positions you’ve set at just the speed you’ve chosen.

Very slow speeds are often valuable for realistic animation. Easy setup and push-button adjustment lets anyone use servo motors to make things move on a layout. (Here is a detailed description of Setting Up and Adjusting Servos.)

Our Servo Bases have a “Quiet-Startup” feature that eliminates the jumping about most servo motors do when powering up.

A “Center” button on the base centers all connected servos and lights all connected Touch Toggles. This makes installation of both servos and lights much simpler.

We offer the Base alone or in our packages with Touch Toggles and an output Servo Control Base. Choose the style of base and Touch Toggle that suits your design from the menu below.

We also have packages with Mini-Cup Toggles. These self-trimming fascia mount Toggles mount in a 1″ hole!

You will need:

A 5 volt Power Supply. Stalled or starting servos can draw lots of power, so a 2 amp power supply is needed for each Servo Control Base.

One Setup Remote tool to adjust your servos for optimum operation. You’ll need just one for the whole layout. Our easy to use Setup Remote helps you to quickly set each servo to the exact positions and speed setting you need.

The Setup Remote needs to be connected only while adjustments are being made. The setup routine is designed to be simple and self guiding. You can read about Setting up Servos with a Setup Remote for extensive instructions

One Setup Remote CableThe Setup Remote uses a standard DCC cable (RJ11 – straight through wiring) to connect to the base. If you don’t have one we stock Setup Remote Cables in 7 and 25 foot lengths.

Servos. Use your existing servos, or find some from the suppliers linked on our Servos page.

Servo Mounts. Install the servos with your own mounting arrangement, or add Servo Under-Table Mounts or  Servo Well Mounts to provide the easy-to-install mounting you’d like.

undertable_servo_mount_site servo_well_2

Most of these items are listed in the pop-up menu below…

Accessories

A note about using servos:

Servo motors can at times be unpredictable, “twitching” briefly out of normal settings.  Our Quiet-Startup feature has almost eliminated this behavior. Still, make sure nothing will be damaged should the servo try to move outside of it’s pre-set range. In most cases this is as simple as adding a spring or springiness to the linkage. Be sure that a sudden movement doesn’t move your turnout or break the throw rod. It is wise to add a V or Z bend in direct push rod linkages to avoid problems.

If you are ordering our mechanical Push Button Toggles for Lionel and High Rail systems, these do not have wire pigtails. Be sure to choose the required 3-pin extensions, and Mini-Cup mounts, or LED options in the Push Button Toggle page

If you have further questions contact Kevin Hunter at kevin@berretthill.com or 443 527 6320.

 

Legal stuff: This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer (lead). Unused or retired products should be recycled properly or may be returned to Berrett Hill for disposal in accordance with RoHS standards.

We manufacture our products in the USA. Orders over $140 include free shipping to US addresses.

Click on the description to choose the right parts from the pop-up menu, and set the correct quantity below.

   

Comments are closed.