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Reversing sections
Reversing sections
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pathvet9
Member since
June 2005
From: Long Beach, CA
207 posts
Reversing sections
Posted by
pathvet9
on Saturday, September 10, 2005 4:58 PM
My track plan has an outer oval with an inner figure-8. So I am wondering what I need to insulate and how many reversing sections that turns out to be?
I am currently insulated at each corner of the figure-8 and plan to use one reversing circuit breaker from Tony's. Is that enough and will it allow me to run 2 locos at a time in the loops or just one?
Thanks for all the support in this forum.
[%-)][8D]
Cheers, Jake
Cheers, Jake ---------------------------------------- Patience when resources are limited
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selector
Member since
February 2005
From: Vancouver Island, BC
23,325 posts
Posted by
selector
on Saturday, September 10, 2005 6:35 PM
I'll put my neck out there and state that I believe if you wire both cross arms of the X in the middle of your oval with the same polarity, and the crossing itself is isolated, then the auto reverser will work fine, regardless of the number of locos you have inside the oval.
(Shoot! Is that laughter I hear...?) [%-)]
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MisterBeasley
Member since
December 2004
From: Bedford, MA, USA
21,369 posts
Posted by
MisterBeasley
on Saturday, September 10, 2005 10:33 PM
With a crossover between sides of an oval like this, you will always have a problem when there is an engine (or a wired car, like a lighted passenger coach) at each end of the crossover. At this point, the reverser will not know what to do, because one polarity is necessary at one end, and the other polarity at the other end. Even a metal wheel which is exactly on the insulation point could cause this problem. With a "double cross" design, you create an additional point where this would be a problem. (Only 1 additional point, though, because the other end of the second crossover would not be in conflict.)
It would be better to put a separate reverser on each arm of the double crossover, but if you are only running 1 engine in the whole double crossover at a time, then you can probably get away with 1 most of the time.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
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pathvet9
Member since
June 2005
From: Long Beach, CA
207 posts
Posted by
pathvet9
on Sunday, September 11, 2005 12:55 AM
Sounds like Ii have truly complicated my life but what else is new!! [banghead].
Guess I will try to do just one loco in the X. Thought maybe with DCC would figure that part out but .....understand the need for two reversers. Sounds like I should rip up track instead! [sigh]
Thanks for the insights.
Cheers, Jake ---------------------------------------- Patience when resources are limited
Reply
NZRMac
Member since
September 2004
From: Christchurch New Zealand
1,525 posts
Posted by
NZRMac
on Sunday, September 11, 2005 3:11 AM
You've got two loops, one outer and one inner figure 8? are the two loops connected? do you have four turnouts connecting the figure 8 to the inner loop?
If that's right you have two reverse loops and will need two reversers. I tried using one (cheapskate) and it didn't like it!!
Ken.
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pathvet9
Member since
June 2005
From: Long Beach, CA
207 posts
Posted by
pathvet9
on Sunday, September 11, 2005 10:27 AM
Ken - you have it correct and I guess the concensus is as you have found out and others have predicted.
Were you able to use one loco in the figure-8 with only one reverser?
Cheers, Jake ---------------------------------------- Patience when resources are limited
Reply
NZRMac
Member since
September 2004
From: Christchurch New Zealand
1,525 posts
Posted by
NZRMac
on Sunday, September 11, 2005 6:39 PM
Mine was two reverse loops but not in a figure of 8, and yes one loco two loops and one reverser works ok.
As long as you watch those metal car wheels at the rear of the train.
Ken.
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