Hey all.
First off, sorry for asking the same old question a different way, but I could not find an old post exactly on-point. Working on my new layout design for my new house. It is much larger than my old layout. One of my "legs" is a large reversing loop for the main line. I plan to use an automatic reverser (that I have never used to date). In the middle of the loop itself are some siding tracks for industries. If the train on the main activates the reverser, the direction of the train working the siding will not be affected, correct?
Thanks
If you are using DCC,which I am going to assume with this answer,then you are correct,any engines in the reversing section will NOT reverse direction. The direction a loco goes is determinded by the decoder,not the polarity on the rails. Hope this helps.
Tom
What brand Auto reverse are you using? The reason is that some are to slow to react and IF you back a car with a resistor over the gap in the loop you MAY get a short. I use Tony's and have never had a problem. One loop is 38 ft long and the other is 12 ft. Both have sidings and being the Tony's is solid state not a relay all rolls along.
DCC is great in that the track does NOT control direction like in the DC world.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Another vote for Tony's. I've got a yard off of my reverser section, too. The circuit breaker feature of Tony's PS-REV (the older version) is very nice, because it keeps the main running if I have a problem in the yard.
Something else that everyone should realize about DCC reversers. If you are running a DC engine (as Engine Zero) it will enter the reverse loop successfully, but when it gets to the other end it will either ping-pong back and forth, switching direction, or just short out because it doesn't reverse fast enough and gets stuck across the gap. This is just the way things work. A DCC reverser works because the track polarity can change without affecting the engine. However, a DC engine depends on track polarity, even in DCC, so it just can't negotiate an auto-reverse section. The solution, of course, is to put a decoder into the DC engine and make the engine, and yourself, much happier.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Another thing to think about, if your reverse loop is real long you don't have to have the reversing setup for the entire loop. All you need is a section of track that is slightly then your longest train. If this is possible your yard etc. may not be in the reversing section.
Craig
Interesting. I could do that. One leg of the loop is 8 feet long and hidden track. Are there any advantages to this setup?
I see several votes for Tony's reverse sensors. I'm curious, has anyone used or can compare against the ARSC from Loy's Toys? (Since he's going out of business, I picked one up from Loy's on sale but haven't had a chance to hook it up yet - I'm wondering how it stacks up to Tony's.)
Thanks!
JWBDolphins wrote: I see several votes for Tony's reverse sensors. I'm curious, has anyone used or can compare against the ARSC from Loy's Toys? (Since he's going out of business, I picked one up from Loy's on sale but haven't had a chance to hook it up yet - I'm wondering how it stacks up to Tony's.) Thanks!
I can't speak to the ARSC, but the PSXAR is solid state, from what I understand, and also doubles as a circuit breaker. When I found out about this latter feature I was sold.