DCC wiring, part 2

[Anonymous]

I didn't see your original post, but some things are the same whether you're using DC or DCC. If I understand your description, there are actually two separate reversing loops, that happen to cross each other in the middle.

I don't know what brand of crossing you're using, but it should have the two routes electrically separate, and the rails for each connected electrically to the opposite rails, so you probably don't need to insulate the crossing from the track that connects to it.

This would be easier with a diagram, but let's say one route is "A" and the other is "B". For each route, there is track attached to each side of the crossing -- let's call them A1 and A2 for one route, and B1 and B2 for the other. Then a train coming from A1 would go through the crossing onto track A2; one from B1 would cross onto B2.

If A1, crossing, and A2 are a single reversing section, then no, you don't have to insulate the crossing from A1 or A2 (you do, of course, have to separate the whole thing from the rest of the layout). But if, say, A1 is the reversing section, and the crossing and A2 are not, then yes, you have to insulate A1 from the crossing and the rest of the layout (but not from A2).

The only trouble might be if train wheels contact the end of the other route's rails right at the crossing (running on A but touching B as it passes through). No crossing should do this, but if it does, the easiest solution would be a tiny spot of clear nail polish on the very end of the rails where the wheels contact them.

[wblock]

Many thanks to those who answered my question of a couple of days ago.
Along the same lines with wiring reversing loops, mine will be basically in the form of a figure eight inside an oval so I can reverse trains back to their original direction.
Is there a problem with the crossing and do I have to create caps at all four possible approaches to the crossing?
As you can probably tell, electricity is not my strong suit.
The other thing I'm trying to figure out is, if I do decide to handle the reversing manually, is the Atlas Selector the proper thing to do it with?