NEED HELP! DCC Short problem

[Anonymous]

HO 8 X 12 DCC I tried to draw my track plan to show you my problem and hopefully somebody can come up with a fix. I think it may be a pretty simple one but not sure.

I laid the outside main and ran a train. No problem. I then laid the inside main and tried to run a train with turnouts 1,2,3 and four connected. The whole layout shorted out. I then started trouble shooting by disconnecting turnouts 1,2,3 and four and I could run a train on the inside and out side mains! No problem! I then connected turnouts 3 and 4 and left 1 and 2 disconnected and the trains ran both on the inside and outside main. Good so far. I then disconnected 3 and4 and connected 1 and2 and the trains ran again on the outside and inside mains. When I connected up 3 and 4 again with 1 and 2 connected, the whole layout shorts out.

As you can see, #1 and 2 turnouts go from the outside in and #3 ans 4 turnouts go from the inside out! I planned it this way so I can move the trains both ways with out having to back them up! This is something that I would like to keep. I tried gapping 1 and 2 and everything runs but when the train crosses the gap, short time. Is there a simple fix to keep my 4 turnouts like they are?

Thanks, DON

[cacole]

A couple of automatic reversing modules from Digitrax connected to either main line might solve your problem. The only other way is to have toggle switches to reverse the polarity of either the inner or outer loop before you cross over.

The main problem with your track plan is reversed polarity at one of these two crossovers, depending on which track you're on and your direction of travel.

The outer loop is no problem, but your inner loop is doubling back on itself in a figure 8.

[Anonymous]

do not understand how to pick a center point to do my radius track laying. I see circles w/x's in the center in the railroad track plans books, but do not understand how they picked the center point tp do the radius on the board

stuberan brain facilities

Thanks Brainless Bob

[rrinker]

Yeah that's a wierd one, it's not a reversing loop, but because of the way the inner loop flips over, the two sets of crossovers connect opposite polarities. I don't see how with that arrangment you can go from the outside to the inside, and then back out again, withough backing up. I would reverse one set of those crossovers so you could do that - and it would make the reverse loop obvious.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Randy is right it is not a reversing loop the way it is set up. The only problem I can see then is that the inner rail on the inner loop and the inner rail on the outer loop are reversed. Switch the leads on the inner or outer loop and try it again.

Another test would be to take a loco from one loop and move it to the other loop without changing the direction it faces and see if it goes in the other direction. I am not that DCC literate but it would work DC and from what I understand of DCC it should still work.

[rrinker]

No, it's not a reversing loop, but the inner and outer rails DO cross at the crossovers because of the way the inner loop flips over itself. Just reversing the rail connections of the inner loop won't solve anything.
What we have here is a reverse loop that doesn't reverse any trains. [:D]

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for the help! I fixed itttttt! but I had to move turnouts #3 and #4 over by Turnouts #1 and # 2 and I had the room to stack them all in a straight line!

So I ccan still go from the inside to the outside and visa versa without any backing up! and no shorts! I guess it works because I now have the two inner switches off the same loop, rather than two on one off the inner loops and the other two on the other inner loop separated by the cross overs! Does that make sense.????

Anyway, I am happy. so far so good!

I really designed the track plan so that I could have two continuous running trains while I worked the yards with a switcher! I like alot of action going on! lol

I haven't laid the track in the yeards yet Hope there wqill be no problems there when I do!

Thanks for your help! DON