Opps!!! A DCC Afterthought

[rlandry6]

I'm wiring a N Scale layout and using a Digitrax Zepher. I have two reversing loops on my layout, actually a loop and a wye, for which I already have two AR1 units. It dawned on me that the system could short-circuit if both rev. sections were crossed by locos at the same time. It's not a huge layout so I wasn't going to do power districts, but if necessary, I can. I was just trying to stay away from any unnecessary expense. I just want to isolate the two loops so that one doesn't affect the other adversely.. What's the most economical, OK cheapest way to do this. I'm thinking a PM42 unless there's a better way to do it..

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

If the loops are independent you shouldn't have a problem as it is, but without a bit more description, I can't say for sure.

[rlandry6]

I'm not sure what you mean by independant. They are on opposite sides of the layou and each one has it's own reversing controller. The entire mainline is fed from one source, though.. if that makes a difference. I'm just thinking that if a loco were to hit each loop at the same time and they were at different polarities, they would creat a short when they both tried to switch the mainline to match directions at the same time..

 

 

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

The reverse loop controller will switch the loop to match the mainline, so you won't have any trouble!  The mainline will always stay the same.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

I'll add a bit about why it works...

In DCC the "polarity" on the track doesn't matter tot he train, so you can switch the "polarity" under it, and it just keeps doing whatever it is doing.  In DC switching the main to match the loop while the train was in the loop makes sense, in DCC there's no need to think that way.

[rlandry6]

Thanks, that helps a lot.. I'm a little fried today from soldering feeders to N Scale track all day and I'm not thinking as fast as I usually do..