MASTERswitch Electronics

The Versatile MASTERswitch Range

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Text Box: Click on the product name to read about it: MASTERswitch V2 MASTERswitch Ultimate Detector MASTERswitch PLUS MASTERswitch Quad Relay Board MASTERswitch 3 wire Opto Isolation Boards MASTERswitch Accessory Kits

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MASTERswitch V2

Guaranteed to improve performance of any brand of twin coil solenoid turnout motor, MASTERswitch V2 has evolved from our successful original MASTERswitch^® … and has been created to give you even better value and performance.

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MASTERswitch^® V2 is packed in pairs and supplied complete with a detailed 8 page instruction manual showing all wiring connections and several of the many different possible applications.

MASTERswitch V2 has these features:

· Able to throw multiple PECO, SEEP or similar solenoids simultaneously with ease. (providing of course your power supply is adequate!)

· Can be powered by AC, DC or DCC, with a wide acceptable input voltage range. We recommend 15~20 volts AC or DC (TIP: An old laptop computer power supply is perfect - usually 18 volts DC at 3 to 3.5 amps)

· Logical connections with screw terminals for all major inputs/outputs that are clearly marked, making it almost impossible to wire it incorrectly.

· LOW turn on power loading.

· Super low power requirement for switching, allowing very light wire to be used in control panels and for switch connections. (We recommend that MS V2 is placed close to solenoids to minimize the amount of heavy wiring required on your layout).

· Common + LED connection pads for direct connection of an LED without the need for ballast resistors (Common + dual colour LEDs are supplied with MS V2 in our accessory packs).

· Built-in memory for switched position which allows panel lamps to be used with either momentary or conventional switches.

· Utilising the optional Opto Isolation boards (supplied at no charge if DC use is specified) MASTERswitch simply connects between DCC accessory decoders and solenoid to improve performance.

· Adds “Feedback indication” to DCC accessory decoders via panel lamp memory.

· Provides the ability to switch relays or change frog polarity via the DPDT switch supplied.

· Adds option for LED signals via the latching LED connection points as well as LED panel lamps.

· With momentary switches you have the ability to use conventional and DCC control in parallel on the same solenoid, adding greater convenience.

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Basic MASTERswitch V2 applications

(With a little imagination, they can do all sorts of things!)

To read or download the manual, please click here

MASTERswitch V2 is sold in packs of TWO with all accessories.

There are TWO pack variants:

DCM-MSV2. MASTERswitch V2 for conventional control.

This pack contains 2x MASTERswitch V2, 2x DPDT toggle Switches, 2x Bi-colour common + Red/Green 3mm LED and manuals.

DCM-MSV2D. MASTERswitch V2 for DCC or computer control.

This pack contains 2x MASTERswitch V2, 2x 3 wire Opto Isolation boards, 4x pushbutton switches for optional override of decoder/computer (each with a choice of 3 colour caps already provided in the box) and manuals.

(Note, if you also want to operate manually, we also have a separate accessory kit that will let you parallel operation of MS via DCC or PC and pushbuttons. It contains 4x DPDT Pushbutton Switches, each with 3 (red/green/black) easily changeable colour caps.

Full details are shown in “MASTERswitch Accessories”)

To read or download the manual, please click here

Buying MASTERswitch V2

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MASTERswitch PLUS

MASTERswitch PLUS is an INCREDIBLY VERSATILE Product!

As well as being guaranteed to improve performance of any brand of twin coil solenoid turnout motor, MASTERswitch PLUS will give you incredible control of items on your layout….

MASTERswitch PLUS was born after talking about layout control with many modellers - there was simply nothing to give multiple switching of accessories, to allow easy control of things like complex crossovers such as scissors, and there were constant requests for something to help control other things such as signals and interlocking too!

We listened… and created MASTERswitch PLUS.

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MASTERswitch^® PLUS takes all the features of the clever MASTERswitch^® V2 and adds total flexibility of use by incorporating no less than four sets of SPDT changeover contacts in addition to all other features.

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Rather than detail all the features, its better to show you in one or two complete diagrammes just how clever MASTERswitch PLUS can be or,

To read or download the full 16 page manual, please click here

This first example uses two “MASTERswitch^® PLUS” to control a full scissors crossover with all switched frog power (that’s SIX including diamonds) and as you can see, they can do this AND interlock the turnout/point motors properly and still give you panel light control...and spare contacts for addition of signalling if you wish.

Our second example is much simpler, but shows a very useful feature of MASTERswitch PLUS—It can non only control most turnout related issues but is can also very easily be configured to act as a reverse loop controller for both DC and DCC layouts!

Text Box: These diagrammes are all to be found along with many others in the very complete MASTERswitch PLUS Owners manual which is packed with every unit. As with MASTERwitch V2, MASTERswitch PLUS can be used in combination with any accessory decoder, and if you indicate DCC use at the time of ordering we can supply you with the correct fitting kit .

MASTERswitch PLUS is sold singly with all accessories.

There are TWO pack variants:

DCM-MSplus. MASTERswitch PLUS for conventional control.

This pack contains 1x MASTERswitch PLUS, 1x DPDT toggle Switches, 1x Bi-colour common + Red/Green 3mm LED and manuals.

DCM-MSplusD. MASTERswitch PLUS for DCC or Computer control.

This pack contains 1x MASTERswitch Plus, 1x 3 wire Opto Isolation boards, 4x pushbutton switches for optional override of decoder/computer (each with a choice of 3 colour caps already provided in the box) and manuals.

Full details are shown in “MASTERswitch Accessories”)

To read or download the full 16 page manual, please click here

Buying MASTERswitch PLUS

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MASTERswitch Ultimate Detector

(Currently sold out / out of stock—more appx Feb 10)

The “Ultimate Detector” came into existence as a result of our own needs. With a layout needing a large quantity of detectors for a large staging yard, we took a long look at what was available in the marketplace.

We were surprised to find that detectors, no matter which type, were actually more expensive than we thought they should be. We weren’t happy that most needed us to cut rail to use them, as we simply don’t think that should be needed if the detector is designed well enough! Most were pretty fussy about how they were powered, and many needed us to modify rolling stock as well… just not good enough!

So, we set out to create our own… and whilst doing that, also realised that we could do much more… We could keep the installation self contained and eliminate track wiring by using reliable light-based technology; Create better value & tidy up the installation by adding more detectors in a single package; give exceptional flexibility in use by providing lots of on-board adjustment and, most importantly, make the same detector able to do several jobs by varying the way each sensor acted in relation to the others!

The MASTERswitch^® “Ultimate detector” was the result:

· Eight detectors on a single board, supplied complete with eight sensors and a really comprehensive set of instructions, ready to install.

· AC, DC or DC power with a wide voltage tolerance

· Usable with CDS cells (supplied), or if preferred phototransistors and plain simple red LEDs for dark areas.

· Huge adjustability to suit all lighting conditions.

· Simple and visually direct wiring with any important wiring data also printed on the PCB.

· Durable construction with high reliability.

· 4-Way operation - Momentary, timed (10 sec), latching until released by the next detector and latching until tripped by any of the other detectors on the PCB.

· Flexible operation - each detector able to be set to any of the four modes randomly.

· Simple visual programming: No hard to use computers or CV changes - just a 4 position DIP switch that’s easy to understand.

MASTERswitch Ultimate Detector is sold singly with all of the accessories needed for connection.

Each pack contains 1x MASTERswitch Detector, 8x CDS detector cells, 8x LED for panel mounting, 8x Resistors for LED, 2x Super-Bright Red LEDs for use in dark areas such as tunnels and a comprehensive set of instructions

Buying the MASTERswitch Ultimate Detector

For a copy of the MASTERswitch Detector manual, please click here

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MASTERswitch Quad Relay Board

The Quad relay board was originally developed as a companion product for our detector however creating modellers have found many uses for this versatile device.

The Quad relay board does, among other things… extend the functionality of MASTERswitch^® , our Ultimate Detector or any DCC accessory decoder.

The MASTERswitch® Quad relay board provides EIGHT sets of SPDT contacts to allow you to automate everything from simple lighting to automatic reversing, interlock signals, turnouts and track circuits or in fact, do almost anything with any item on the layout!

The Quad relay board is easy to install and use. We have made it able to accept a wide range of power inputs, and the “high or low power” input triggering means that it can be controlled by a simple switch, a detector, or in fact anything that will create a contact!

Here are a few things you can do with this simple but versatile device. * Interlock signalling * Switch Frog power * Protect a diamond * Automate a Reverse loop in DC or DCC * Automate turntable polarity change * Automate turnouts and route control * Switch lighting * Automate sound effects.

Buying The Quad Relay Board

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MASTERswitch OPTO-Isolation Boards

These clever little PCBs will let you connect anything to anything with absolute safety, as they will take any form of input and repeat it while maintaining full optical isolation between the two devices.

Designed originally for MASTERswitch V2 and Plus, we also use them for interfacing detectors to computers, for creating a buffer between higher and lower voltage systems, allowing model railway devices to be safely connected directly to low power digital devices and computers etc.

They are compact and easy to apply—simply connecting between any two devices, with the “command” device connected to the Blue terminals, the receiving device to the Green. It is not necessary to use al 2 terminals, so a simple 2 wire connection can be made via centre plus either left or right terminals.

We have 2 Versions

DCM-OPTO1. Optical Isolation PCB, negative centre terminal.

Super compact, this small device is ideal for computer IO and connection of Detectors which have a common negative and swing positive on detection directly to devices such as MASTERswitch for automation.

DCM-OPTO2. Optical Isolation PCB, Either + or— centre terminal.

This Opt Isolation PCB has bridge rectification at the inputs so will happily cope with ANY polarity of input. THIS is the Opto board we recommend for use with MASTERswitch when DCC control is wanted.

Buying OPTO-Isolation boards

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MASTERswitch Accessories

We also offer two additional accessory packs for MASTERswitch.

DCM-MSP1: A DPDT Switch Pack:

Text Box: Contains 3x high quality Double pole double throw toggle switches and 3 red/green common positive Bi-Colour LEDS. Using toggle switches and LEDs gives very clear indication of turnout position, and you can also parallel signals off the LED positions. (mounting hole for switches should be 1/4” or 6mm)

DCM-MSP2: A DPDT Switch Pack:

Text Box: Contains 3x DPDT momentary push button switches & 3 x red/green common+ Bi-Colour LEDS. 3 sets of 3 coloured caps are provided - Red, Green & Black. ( These switches can also operate as DPST if outer pins are linked so you can wire it just like we have shown in the MASTERswitch Manual