Understanding the BitSwitch

BitSwitches are designed to control the movement of traffic in one or more “Isolated Sections” of track.

A layout may have as few as one or many isolated sections where it is desirable to control traffic flow to prevent collisions.

To control movement in an isolated section one of three commands must be sent to any BitSwitch that controls that section. (The Timed Stop BitSwitch requires only one) The commands are sent by triggering magnetic reed switches or opto-sensors on the layout.

These commands are:

1. Test= Switch the isolated Section From GO to last Section Status Command
2. Set Section Status to Brake (STOP)
3. Set Section Status to Release (GO)

In this example the “Test”, “Brake” and “GO” triggers control only BitSwitch #1

This DOES NOT mean that every BitSwitch installed requires three track triggers.

Only one reed switch or sensor is required for each Control Section because the triggers can be shared among three or less BitSwitches.

In this example each triggers control either BitSwitch #1 and/or #2

One reed switch or trigger can control as many as three BitSwitches causing Signals for “Test”, “Brake” and “GO” to be sent to three different BitSwitches.