Hi there. I am wiring a DC layout and I have two loops with switching in towns and yards. I want each loop to have dual mainline cabs as well as a local cab in each town. I have DPDT centre off switches. How can I have the local cab not interfere with the mainline cabs and vice versa when powering a block? I should be able to have the blocks with an off position as well. Thanks steve
Steve,
A simple answer,for three cabs,is to use, rotary switches, instead of DPDT, The rotary,also has a off, position,, hence,A,B,C, OFF..All your blocks, insulated on both rails...preferred,method instead of common rail,wiring...
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Frank
When our club layout was put together in the 1980's we had fourteen blocks and four throttles. We had to use rotary switches. A DPDT switch as only for a reversing loop.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
While I would normally recommend Atlas selectors or DPDT switches for 2 cab, I have to agree with the rotary switch choice for 3 or more cabs.
I like common rail, having used it since the mid 80s with the same 2 MRC packs. No problems other than some rail joiner replacement.
Jim
Cost and availability makes having another simple solution a desirable option. Just use another set of DPDT switches in between the two circuits used for the main and the main itself. For each block to be powered with a local cab, this DPDT switch gives the option of whichever of the two main cabs is selected, while the other pole would select the local cab. Simple and cheap.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
My Zone (town) Panel block power selector switches are 6PDT rotaries. Positions on the power selection deck are (clockwise from 10 o'clock):
Thanks to all, I was thinking this way. Each block would have two dpdt centre off switches-one for MAIN Cab A and MAIN Cab B, the other for MAIN and LOCAL- both with centre off. I am confused on how to wire this.Thanks ahead of time steve
steve,
I'll do my best. I'm not showing both rails of the track. Each long line is a DPDT switch. Because of how MR formats the forum, I can't connect each level of switching, but trust that there is a connection down from the Main level and down from the Track level. You have a power pack at these three locations: Local, Main A, and Main B.
Track
Main ________________________________Local
________________________
Main A Main B
The way Mike is trying to tell you how to do it is correct,,, in fact if you remember to turn one of the DPDT's off,, you should be able to go any where on the layout,with any of the three cabs, you would have to daisy chain the center,two terminals,the ones that go to the blocks to have that work.. It would be much easier, with a diagram to show you,,,sorry, but I can't do that at the moment,,cam is broke,,,
Correction;;; The daisy chain I mentioned,,won't work to the blocks,, must have been a fantasy moment,,,
thanks to all, What I am understanding from Mike's post is that I would not be able to switch locally if a mainline train comes through either on Cab A or B- I would have to wait for it to pass for me to resume switching. Also I will need to insulate both rails at the ends of the local area and then daisy chain the common rail wire from the main cabs to the next local block so that my local transformer does not carry into the next local block of tracks. (I know- bite the bullet and switch to DCC lol)
Sc&vm,
It would be so much simpler, with rotary switch's, They are not that much money from a electronic supply house, or surplus, outlet.
SC&VMthanks to all, What I am understanding from Mike's post is that I would not be able to switch locally if a mainline train comes through either on Cab A or B- I would have to wait for it to pass for me to resume switching.
If everything at that location is wired as one block, yes, you would have to wait until the train on the main clears. This presumes you have some way to shut off power to the sidings/other tracks to hold your local switcher while trains move through.
But you should have more than one block. There should be, at a minimum, a block for the main and a block for the siding. Depending on the complexity of the track, you may have additional blocks.
So long as the main is on a block separate from the rest of the local traffic, you will be able to run trains through with it while still switching on the rest of the track on the other block(s) there.
LIONS keep thing simple!
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hello, I am curious about this switch. What is it called? I guess I do not use common rail. Many thanks Steve
I am running four loops each with its own dedicated cab by utilizing two dual cab controllers. I only need the DPDT switches to control the sidings off of each loop. An extra single cab controller can be had for next to nothing if you choose to go that route.
SC&VMHello, I am curious about this switch. What is it called? I guess I do not use common rail. Many thanks Steve
Witch Switch? The one I showed was a 2 pole 4 position switch. Details not found at the other end of the cat, will be found in the link that I gave you just above the switch pictch.
For this switch (called a slide switch) you would use one for each block, the common side would go to the tracks for each particular block, while the rest of the terminals are wired to one of four power packs. And the best part is these switches area bout $1.00 each.
If you will use a single wire system with a common return, you would tie all of the RIGHT outputs from the transformers together and run them to a common rail. On layout of LION the LEFT rail is common, and the RIGHT rail is power. +vdc moves train forward, -vdc moves train backward. LION ignorse that. Him puts +10v regulated DC on right rail, all trains move forward. Is no reverse: Subway trains do not go backwards. LION could tell ewe more about LION but that was not part of your question. It would confuse you. LION does not want to confuse you. But if LION did want to confuse ewe, ewe would be easier to catch and eat.
Thank you LION. I thought you and the ewe would lie down (not be eaten), and swords will plough the earth? I ordered 30 of these in bulk (45 cents each) with the link you gave. I will give them a go. I have about 40 toggle switches so I may try a combination of these on the control panel.
Previous advice is right on - use a rotary switch.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
LION has used rotary switches, toggle switches, and slide switches, but the ones that I liked best were ganged push type slide switches, press one, it releases the other. But then the LION always over built his Block Control, what with six throttles, when he only had one LION.
Automatic control is looking better and better on my line.