Wiring a wye

[sailor38]

Still futzing around with a design for my yard and was trying to come up with a way to turn locos. I don't really have room for a turntable but might be able to incoroporate a wye into the track plan. Question: Wouldn't that be essentially the same thing as a reversing loop as for as wiring is concerned? (I'm DC, obviously).

Chuck

[dehusman]

Yes sorta. If the wye was arranged so that the "tail" of the wye was not connected back into the main line, but stubbed off somewhere, it becomes simpler to wire because the reversing switch can be incorporated into the controls used to throw the turnout on the tail of the wye. The polarity of the tail track is determined by which way the turnout is thrown on the tail track. If the tail of the wye ties back into the main someplace it becomes a "regular" reversing loop.

Dave H.

[cwclark]

it's pretty easy to wire a wye if you use "all power turnouts"...you'll have to put in a block on one of the legs of the wye (I use the "right hand rule" for wiring so as i look at the wye it's the track leg on the left of the wye) and do the "X" wiring on a DP/DT toggle switch from the track outside of the block to the DP/DT switch and then to the track inside the block ...to operate a wye, once the train is within the block, you'll have to stop the train, switch the DP/DT toggle, and then change the direction switch on your power pack before proceeding..if you don't do this, the train will want to run forwards and backwards everytime it crosses the insulators in the block...the other Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

What is the simplest way to connect the very fine wires of the signal units (36 gauge wire) to connecting posts or to connect to a larger gauge bus? Any suggestions.

[Seamonster]

I would use a solder terminal strip to join the two wires. I prefer the type with a closed loop over the type with a T-shaped lug. Very carefully strip about 1/4" of insulation off the 36 ga. wires (if they're not already stripped) and wrap the stripped ends around the lugs of the terminal strip. Apply a very small amount of solder over the wires to hold them in place. Strip the ends of your heavier gauge wires and wrap them around the lugs. Solder both wire ends in place securely. You should always use a terminal strip to join wires from a lamp or signal or whatever to the heavier wires under the layout. That way if anything snags the larger wires and pulls on them, it won't rip the fine wires out of the lamp or signal. Hope this helps.
...Bob