I have heard of using blocks before but have no real idea how they work. Also, are there any sites that explain or offer products to buy? (I also have done a forum search, but found nothing)
tim
timbob I have heard of using blocks before but have no real idea how they work. Also, are there any sites that explain or offer products to buy? (I also have done a forum search, but found nothing) tim
Blocks are discussed in this thread
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/146896/1629203.aspx#1629203
What is it you want to Buy ?
TerryinTexas
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Tim,
Since you are obviously new to all this, I strongly suggest you get copies of the "Electrical Handbook for Model Railroads - volume 1&2" by Paul Mallery - published by Cartstens Publications. It is the single most complete yet concise explaination of all phases of model train wiring you will find anywhere.
No matter what system or methods you ultimately decide to use for your trains, it will give you the back ground and reference information you need. It explains everything you need or want to know about blocks, and much more and is full drawings and diagrams of how it all works.
Our hosts here, Kalmbach also have a number of good books on the subject. I know of no complete or effective web site for the information you seek.
Sheldon
Your local hobby shop will have many books re starting a model railroad, most all of them explain blocks. (Last visit I made to my LHS they had a free booklet on getting started that explained a lot of things, I think it was part of the "World's Greatest Hobby" promotion. Kalmbach / Model Railroader also has information available at their website:
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=ss&id=16
Anyway, a block is basically just a portion of the layout that is electrically isolated from other parts, sometimes by using plastic "insulated" rail joiners instead of the metal ones. It allows you to shut off power to a block while an engine is in the block, so it will stay where it is while you run another engine.
An examplemight be a passing track, where a locomotive and it's train can pull into the clear to allow another train to pass. By having the sidetrack be it's own electrical block, you can pull the train into the sidetrack (or "siding") and then click a switch to turn power off to the siding, so the train won't move while the other train passes it on the mainline.
It also can allow you to choose which of two power packs or throttles controls a particular "block", so you can operate two engines at once, like a mainline train going around a continous-run mainline being controlled by one power pack, while a switcher inside the mainline loop works switching cars in a yard or industrial area controlled by another power pack.
timbobI have heard of using blocks before but have no real idea how they work.
Blocks are used in DC to allow multiple locomotives to just sit on the track or to run two trains simultaniously. In DCC blocks are used to provide more power and/or isolate electrical issues to a smaller part of the layout. Are you working on one or the other of these issues? If not, there might not be any reason for blocks.
I do know more about blocks than I said. I want to put in blocks on my layout so I can run multible trains and hold some on sidings. I guess my question is, if anyone could explaine or give diagrams on how they work.
The books I recommended will explain exactly how to do that, and will even explain several different ways of controling those blocks.
You really don't need blocks if you are operating with DCC. An exception would be if you want to kill the sound in idle engines.
The only reason you might need blocks in DCC is for some types of signal detection systems that sense when a train is occupying a given block. If you use IR or other light type sensors, blocks are really not necessary since the location of the sensor basically establish a "block" for signal detection purposes.
I operate in DC and have used blocks to allow either Cab A or Cab B to be connected to a selected block. Using DPDT center off toggles you can also deaden a section, where you might have an engine parked, for instance.
I prefer track detection using a version of the TwinT circuit. This allows signalling and also can cut off power to a section of track prior to the Red Board thus preventing rear end collisions. This requires a 3PDT relay, to control the track power and to provide red, yellow and green signal aspects as required. No complcated computers or circuits are needed to accomplish this.
From what I read in the forum thread on DCC and Wiring it might be a good idea to isolate the track into blocks to aid in trouble shooting when a short occurs, which will shut the entire system down as I understand it.
Although even in DCC if you have a reverse loop of some type, you'll need that to be a separate block to allow for the polarity change. Pretty easy with DCC, you can hook up an inexpensive gizmo to automagically do the switch for you.
timbobI want to put in blocks on my layout so I can run multible trains and hold some on sidings.
I guess my question is, if anyone could explaine or give diagrams on how they work.
What happens is that a person ends up spending all their time flipping switches instead of running the train. SOOO as the other posters have pointed out. If you don't already have all the stuff needed to do a block control system (lots of wire, two power supplies, lots of electrical switches), and if the layout isn't already cut up into blocks.... It would probably be about the same cost but much easier to go with a DCC control system. Hook up two wires from it to the track. Wire decoders into the locomotives, and you are done and ready to run trains.
From your avatar it looks like you are running N-scale. There are many decoders small enough for N-scale on the market today.
Texas Zepher timbobI want to put in blocks on my layout so I can run multible trains and hold some on sidings.Ah, the block control system. I guess my question is, if anyone could explaine or give diagrams on how they work.Very simply. The track blocks are electrically isolated. Each track block is wired to an electrical switch. The switch flipped one way connects the track to one controller. When flipped the other way it connects the track to the second controller. So one ends up flipping the switch in front of the train to connect the track to the controller that is currently running it. One has to have enough blocks to allow this to happen. Easy to explain a mess to wire up and run. What happens is that a person ends up spending all their time flipping switches instead of running the train. SOOO as the other posters have pointed out. If you don't already have all the stuff needed to do a block control system (lots of wire, two power supplies, lots of electrical switches), and if the layout isn't already cut up into blocks.... It would probably be about the same cost but much easier to go with a DCC control system. Hook up two wires from it to the track. Wire decoders into the locomotives, and you are done and ready to run trains. From your avatar it looks like you are running N-scale. There are many decoders small enough for N-scale on the market today.
timbob, the books I recommended with also explain why some of the above is not necessarily correct. Using DC block control does not always require "that a person ends up spending all their time flipping switches"
As for wiring, complexity grows with layout size, DC or DCC.
I'm surprised people forget the NMRA website has a whole section for beginners. www.nmra.org/beginner will get you to the index. The wiring part starts on:
http://www.nmra.org/beginner/wiring.html
and you can page through to more advanced wiring with the "Electrical" tab on the right. Good basics as well.
Even with DCC, I'd recommend blocks (I think they call them control zones in DCC) if you have anything besides a basic oval, mainly for troubleshooting when (notice I didn't say "if") things go wrong with the electrical system.