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Salada
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No rush on the micro switch info Si. There is a LOT else to do first before deciding on which method of switch operation to use - discussion to follow sometime but in the meantime this ---
Your elektrickery expertise is far greater than mine I suspect.
Is it possible to slow down the operating speed of a bog-standard el Cheepo Peco type simple solenoid so that it doesn't go Bang ! & presumably knock hell out of the switch-rail stretcher bars ?.
Maybe some sort of DC pulsed band width modulation electrowhatsit effect 
Or a high tek rubber band tied to one end of the moving solenoid thing ??
Meanwhile, I believe it is the season of Bah Humbug 'n all that.
Cheers, Michael
Ps: you did ask me a few posts ago about the Chavez switch operation method - I haven't replied 'cos so far there ain't one !
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Si.
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Hi Michael.
This is the info. on the subminiature micro-switch you asked about.
The one I bought to test out, is marked in red...
...I got the lowest operating force model.
The operating-lever in the photo is the 'short lever' ( I think ).
The lever shape of SW05202 is shown in my photo, on the previous page <<<
I thought that the light operating ( low-friction ) pressure, lever shape & easy mounting holes...
...could make this a good choice for a turntable indexing disc ( type thingamebob ).
Si.
____________________
' Mysterious Moose Mountain ' - 1:35n2 - pt.II
http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=7318&forum_id=17&page=1
' M:R:W Motor Speedway !!! ' - 1:32 Slotcar Racing Layout
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59295&st=0&a
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Salada
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Thanks Si,
I presume "20gf" = 20 grammes force ??. So about 3/4 oz ?
Cheers, Michael
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Si.
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" Your elektrickery expertise is far greater than mine I suspect.
Is it possible to slow down the operating speed of a bog-standard el Cheepo Peco type simple solenoid so that it doesn't go Bang ! & presumably knock hell out of the switch-rail stretcher bars ?.
Maybe some sort of DC pulsed band width modulation electrowhatsit effect
Or a high tek rubber band tied to one end of the moving solenoid thing ?? "
Hi Michael. 
I had PECO solenoids on a previous layout.
After they had totaly burned-out all the push-button switches on my control-panel...
...I installed brass-studs, for 'electric pen' type operation.
You needed to wear welding-gauntlets though...
...as the sparks coming outta the front of the control-panel, looked like Guy Fawkes nite !
I tried lessening the BANG ! as they threw, by fitting some neoprene-foam between the throw-rod & bent-steel chassis of the coils.
It was a marginal improvement.
But you still needed to wear an industrial polycarbonate-visor, for elf & safety...
...to stop the flying ballast-chippings, constantly loosened by the seismic shockwave, from heading eyeward !!
( this of course didn't prevent said 'loose-chippings' from jamming in the point-blades & loco mechs.)
I don't know of any 'electrical fix' for making a 'slow throw' solenoid...
...as far as I can figure; one does not exist.
Seep PM-1 turnout-solenoid (with polarity-switch)
This is about the best of the bunch, of the 'simple' solenoids I've seen.
There is a kinda locking-spring, I seem to recall, that the PECO doesn't have...
...which slightly lessens the BANG !
(PECO turnouts have a built-in spring)
It also has a built-in polarity-switch, that the PECO doesn't have.
The longer than PECO throw-rod, as standard, might give some extra damping as well.
The 'old skool' H&M solenoids were quite good.
Operating a rotating-crank, not a simple throw-rod (omega-link recommended).
They had a built-in polarity-switch as well.
About 4x the bulk though...
...& a significantly higher price.
Cheers.
Si.
P.S. Thanks Dan, for reminding me about ngtrains.com
I checked out the 'Blue Points' there...
...& am going to order some San Juan 'Evolution' couplers from them on Monday, to try out for M.M.M.
Good news on the EUROS spent a week ago...
...order despatched by U.P.S on Friday.
I thought I was going to have to wait until January to get this.
But looks like it'll be at M.M.M...
...in time for CHRISTMAS !!
____________________
' Mysterious Moose Mountain ' - 1:35n2 - pt.II
http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=7318&forum_id=17&page=1
' M:R:W Motor Speedway !!! ' - 1:32 Slotcar Racing Layout
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59295&st=0&a
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Salada
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Hi Si, Happy Sunday !.
I know absolutely nothing about operating model rail turnouts, nor any previous experience thereof, so many Thanks for your reply - lots of useful info there.
I think you have successfully talked me out of using "simple" solenoids EXCEPT for 1 final question :
- does the "throw rod" simply move left-right or does it ROTATE via a cam ??
I am aiming for the minimal switch rail throw that is compatible with Bachmann wheel "standards" - I really dislike model turnouts at Exhibitions that gape open so wide you could get the Queen Mary through.
I've NO idea how Chavez will operate, my current thinking is some simple mechanical system such as 'wire+tube' or even 'fishing line + spring return'. But the non-scenic turnouts along the far wall (Si Junction !) will have to have some sort of power operation.
Not only are these computerish type slow motion gadgets very expensive but it seems you ALSO have to purchase some sort of expensive 'control box' thingies to operate them AND THEN YOU HAVE TO "PROGRAMME" THEM - sounds like it's way beyond my Pay Grade !. I'm more of a 'string & chewing gum' engineer.
My thanks also to Daniel for your additional info on switch 'machines'.
Regards, Michael
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...
when it comes to U.S narrow-gauge in the U.K though. 
