After a long delay I'm getting close to having a functioning layout. Finally have one staging yard nearly complate, most on layout trackage is down (some short sidings aren't finished yet) and will hopefully soon start on the other staging yard.
Now it's time to begin wiring. I've got a Prodigy express system and wish to break up the layout into 4 districs, meaning 4 circuit breakers (for now, I may need a bigger powersupply later) I also need 4 auto reversers.
Seems many are using the AR1 from digitrax and seem happy enough with it, but I'm not finding much about breakers.
So who'sd using what? And does it work reliably?
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
The EB1 circuit breaker from NCE seems to work well http://ncedcc.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=garden_flypage.tpl&product_id=62&category_id=16.
The DCC Specialties PSX-AR reverser works great with low-power DCC systems like MRC http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2011/051911.htm . I've also used Tam Valley's Dual Frog Juicer, which is designed to function as an auto reverser http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/dccpowerfrogjuicers.html (their hex juicer can be used as three auto reversers as well).
Rob Spangler
Another vote for the PSX-AR, of which I have had one working for me for six years, now on its second 'assignment' in a new layout. Those things are worth their weight in platinum. Silent operation, completely reliable.
Crandell
I have 4 AR-1's on my layout and they work flawlessly. They are quiet and they are a lot cheaper than the PSX-AR. The PSX-AR can be finicky.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have a prodigy advance wireless system,with two mrc 8 amp boosters. The layout is divided into 5 districts - using 1 PSX-AR,and 2 PSX2's from DCC Specialties. They all work flawlessly.
Mike
I have a PSX-4 circuit breaker unit, which is 4 breaker modules on one board, and two older PS-REV autoreversers, the predecessor to the PSX-AR. All work very well.
Do yoiu really need 4 auto-reversers? They are normally used only for reverse loops and wyes, and sometimes turntables without directional wiring built-in. Since you're relatively new to this, I'm wondering if you've over-estimated your needs.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mr B, actuall no I do need 4 reversers. My staging yards have return loops at the far ends to allow continuous running, so 2 there, I have a "y" arrangement where 2 tracks duck into a hidden track to staging, and a focal point of the layout is 3 return loops nested together at an ore dock. Minimum 4 reversers since the "y" only needs 1 leg isolated, the 3 loops are treated as 1 since they neck down to a single track before joining the main.
So folks seem to like the DCC Specialties stuff and the Digitrax reversers.
I do have a small reservation about the psx4 though and it stems from my disdain of multi'taskers, if one breaker fails the whole unit needs replaced, while a single breaker failing is less expensive to replace. Thats a personal thing. Is there such a thing as a psx1?
Is the psx ar also a breaker? Or just a reverser? The website was a little vauge on that for me or I just didn't see it.
ruderunner Mr B, actuall no I do need 4 reversers. My staging yards have return loops at the far ends to allow continuous running, so 2 there, I have a "y" arrangement where 2 tracks duck into a hidden track to staging, and a focal point of the layout is 3 return loops nested together at an ore dock. Minimum 4 reversers since the "y" only needs 1 leg isolated, the 3 loops are treated as 1 since they neck down to a single track before joining the main.
Four auto-reversers are not all that unusual, especially on larger, more complicated, layouts. I have four on mine. One is for an approach track to my turntable, two are for reversing the actual direction of trains to return to the passenger station from the direction that they left it, and one for the lead track into my passenger station from the opposite side main line.
I just visited Tony's website and found much better descriptions of the DCC Spec products. Seems that I found answers to the last questions I posed about the psx1 and sort of answerd a questionabout the psx ar but have come up with another.
Seems that the psxar is designed to control the turnout motor as well as change polarity, is that correct? They talk about stall motor and snap coil switches, if so thats far more than I need for most applications. It may come in handy for the Y track but the other turnouts are mostly manual ground throw. If so it expalins the fairly higher price compared to the Digitrax units.
It sounds like you've got a good understanding of your reverse loops, and you do need 4 units.
ruderunner I do have a small reservation about the psx4 though and it stems from my disdain of multi'taskers, if one breaker fails the whole unit needs replaced, while a single breaker failing is less expensive to replace. Thats a personal thing. Is there such a thing as a psx1?
Yes, they make 1, 2, 3 and 4-unit systems. My PSX-4 is one big board, but the 4 breakers are completely isolated. If one wanted to take a saw to the board, the 4 breakers could be separated physically with no change to the electronics. When you connect them all up to the main power input, you have to use wires to get from one breaker to the other in a daisy chain.
It may be worth mentioning that an autoreverser is also a circuit breaker. So, if you feed your autoreversers directly from you main track bus output, you don't need an additional breaker to protect that part of the layout. The nested reverse loops you mentioned might be a candidate for that sort of arrangement.
I needed 2 auto reversers plus a circuit breaker for the main and used DCC Specialties OG-ARs for reversers and OG-CB for the remaining subdistrict. Only online a few months but work fine. In consulted with Tony at Tony's Trains; he's happy to discuss, including what questions matter to your situation.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I use NCE's EB-1 circuit breakers and OGAR for auto reversers with a breaker.
In my opinion, the PXS units are over priced. Yes they work really well, but not any better than the EB-1 or the OGAR which are less expensive. You do have to have a 5 amp system to use the EB-1's and OGAR's.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.