double crossover

[greatn]

Hi all!
On page 42 of Model Railroader's 48 Top-notch track plans is the Laurel Highland RR which I am attempting to build. I am using EasyDCC. I have made a few changes.......the spur line off to the left is my connection to a class A railroad and I have added a double crossover there. The left-hand switch just above goes to the turntable just as in the drawing, however when I throw the switch for the engine to go to the turntable, the system shorts out. I have read both Model Railroad's books DCC made easy and easy model railroad wiring and I am baffeled as to where the problem is. Any suggestions for another book to help or an on-line resorce? Thanks!!

[tstage]

Roy,

I don't have the layout in front of me so I'm having a hard time picturing it in my mind. Does the crossover that leads to the turntable also return the loco on the same track or a separate track? In either case, does it return back to the same crossover?

I believe anytime you have a turntable, you introduce the possibility of a reversing loop. If you rotate the table 180 degrees and try the same thing, does it still short? My guess is that you'll need some sort of reversing loop module to remedy the problem.

Tom

[greatn]

Hi Tom,
Looks like I should have included more information instead of trying to keep it short and simple. The small Peco switch just above the Shinohara double crossover leads to the turntable, the engines return on the same line. There are no electrical connections(yet) on the spur line or the turntable.
Does this information help?

[tstage]

QUOTE: Originally posted by greatn
There are no electrical connections(yet) on the spur line or the turntable.
Does this information help?

Okay....but are the tracks still connected to one another? Roy, Is there anyway you can post a picture of this for me and anyone else interested in the puzzle? It may clear up some things to see if visually. Thanks!

Tom

[greatn]

Hi again Tom,
No, I don't have anyway of posting pictures. Sorry about that!! (Thats why I gave out the information about the book and page number that the layout is in)The main line is a simple loop. Two curved turnouts, Lt and Rt on the backside. Right goes into center of layout and up to get to three mines and other indurtries. Left curved switch goes into a Peco small lefthand switch which goes into 2 parallel running down the left side of the layout. Onto those parallel tracks I have installed the double crossover and just above the inside line is where the small Peco Lt hand switch is located. This one goes to the turntable.

[tjerrard]

You have to wire the turntable as a reverse loop.

Tom

[Anonymous]

The turntable wireing depends on the brand. My Ho Atlas turntable has a set of slip rings that automatically reverse the polarity of the track to match the track it's lined up with.

[greatn]

Hey folks,
Currently the spur lilne going to the turntable has NO electrical connections!! The turntable is NOT electrically connected!! Can somebody suggest a book?

[dehusman]

It sounds to me like the problem is the switch to the turntable has a powered frog. My suggestion is to put an insulated joiner in the straight side of the turntable switch. I thick that rail is being fed electrically from the other end. Lets say the inside rail is "North". When the turntable switch is normal the frog is powered from the north rail. When you line the switch for the turntable the frog now becomes part of the south rail, but since north power is being fed from the other end, it shorts. Installing 1 insulated joint should fix that.

Dave H.

[Jacktal]

I have little experience with Shinohara turnouts.What I have on hand are triple turnout sets designed for yards (N scale) and I found out that I will have to cut gaps to insulate the frogs when I get to install them.I can only guess that you may have the same problem with your crossover.It is likely that your trackplan has nothing to do with your problem,the cause being the crossover itself.

Using a continuity tester,carefully check the current paths everywhere in both switching positions.You may have to insulate some areas and/or use insulated joiners and power your crossover through polarity control switches or reversing module.

[greatn]

Hi there eveyone!!
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will attempt to insulate the switch and if that doesn't work, I will buy an non powered frog and insall it.