rrinker Say you use black and red for your feeders/bus. The order from back to front should be black red black red
Say you use black and red for your feeders/bus. The order from back to front should be
black
red
which would cause a short when crossing tracks throught the double crossover.
Rich
Alton Junction
Which is what I suspect. But to make the end loops the reverse sections it needs to be wired the way I said.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
richhotrain PapaG Now, when I run my train through the double crossover so it's set so there is no short created - switches set for 'straight through' operation - I have no operational issues. But when I throw the switches so the locomotive travels through the crossover to travel from one set of rails to the adjacent set of rails, the loco stops in the middle of the crossover and the indications I get at the PSX-AR's are flashing LED's at D7, D6 & D12. Your PSX-AR settings appear to be correct. From your description of the loco shorting in the middle of the turnout, the problem is likely mismatched polarities on the two mainline tracks. You have gapped and isolated each end loop, creating reverse loops at each end of the layout. So, all of the track outside the two loops (colored green in your track diagram) should be wired the same way, in phase. In other words, at the site of the double crossover, whichever way the "top" track is wired, the "bottom" track should be wired the same way. If wired that way, a loco passing through the double crossover from one track to the other track will have the same polarity, and no short will result. Rich
PapaG Now, when I run my train through the double crossover so it's set so there is no short created - switches set for 'straight through' operation - I have no operational issues. But when I throw the switches so the locomotive travels through the crossover to travel from one set of rails to the adjacent set of rails, the loco stops in the middle of the crossover and the indications I get at the PSX-AR's are flashing LED's at D7, D6 & D12.
Now, when I run my train through the double crossover so it's set so there is no short created - switches set for 'straight through' operation - I have no operational issues. But when I throw the switches so the locomotive travels through the crossover to travel from one set of rails to the adjacent set of rails, the loco stops in the middle of the crossover and the indications I get at the PSX-AR's are flashing LED's at D7, D6 & D12.
Your PSX-AR settings appear to be correct. From your description of the loco shorting in the middle of the turnout, the problem is likely mismatched polarities on the two mainline tracks.
You have gapped and isolated each end loop, creating reverse loops at each end of the layout. So, all of the track outside the two loops (colored green in your track diagram) should be wired the same way, in phase. In other words, at the site of the double crossover, whichever way the "top" track is wired, the "bottom" track should be wired the same way. If wired that way, a loco passing through the double crossover from one track to the other track will have the same polarity, and no short will result.
You nailed it! I had the double crossover wired as though it were the two straight sections of an oval. So, everytime I switched the turnouts to 'cross' instead of 'pass', it shorted. I had inadvertently created another reversing section within the double crossover, LOL!
Thank you Rich! This is working just as ordered now. The loco runs through the crossover in both directions, crossing and passing, as smooth as silk!
After months of getting the equipment needed, testing, troubleshooting, testing some more, we are finally in a place where I can start to secure track on the layout knowing that the functioning elements have all been proofed, and I couldn't have done it without you and the guys here on the forum.
That's a great relief! Thank you for your help!
rrinker Do you have the chank wired correctly? So there are two tracks: ====== ====== Say you use black and red for your feeders/bus. The order from back to front should be black red black red Or whatever colors. But the key is, the rail closest to you on both tracks should be the same feeder, and the two rails furthest from you on both rails should be the same feeder. --Randy
Do you have the chank wired correctly?
So there are two tracks:
======
Or whatever colors. But the key is, the rail closest to you on both tracks should be the same feeder, and the two rails furthest from you on both rails should be the same feeder.
Randy,
You and Rich both nailed it! I had the crossover wired as though it were the two straight sections of an oval, and every time I switched the turnouts to 'cross' instead of 'pass', it caused a fault. I had inadvertently created another reversing section within the double crossover, LOL!
Now the crossover is wired as you and he indicated and, low and behold, the damn thing operates just as it's supposed to! LOL!
I am THRILLED!
This has been a long and frustrating problem for us, from the time I first bought the double crossover and the first AR until now has been a couple of months (or more). So having this element of the layout finally proofed is a great relief.
Couldn't have done it without you and the guys here on the forum! Thank you all very, very much!
Now, we're on to the next hurdle, whatever that might be!
PapaG richhotrain PapaG Now, when I run my train through the double crossover so it's set so there is no short created - switches set for 'straight through' operation - I have no operational issues. But when I throw the switches so the locomotive travels through the crossover to travel from one set of rails to the adjacent set of rails, the loco stops in the middle of the crossover and the indications I get at the PSX-AR's are flashing LED's at D7, D6 & D12. Your PSX-AR settings appear to be correct. From your description of the loco shorting in the middle of the turnout, the problem is likely mismatched polarities on the two mainline tracks. You have gapped and isolated each end loop, creating reverse loops at each end of the layout. So, all of the track outside the two loops (colored green in your track diagram) should be wired the same way, in phase. In other words, at the site of the double crossover, whichever way the "top" track is wired, the "bottom" track should be wired the same way. If wired that way, a loco passing through the double crossover from one track to the other track will have the same polarity, and no short will result. Rich You nailed it! I had the double crossover wired as though it were the two straight sections of an oval. So, everytime I switched the turnouts to 'cross' instead of 'pass', it shorted. I had inadvertently created another reversing section within the double crossover, LOL! Thank you Rich! This is working just as ordered now. The loco runs through the crossover in both directions, crossing and passing, as smooth as silk! After months of getting the equipment needed, testing, troubleshooting, testing some more, we are finally in a place where I can start to secure track on the layout knowing that the functioning elements have all been proofed, and I couldn't have done it without you and the guys here on the forum. That's a great relief! Thank you for your help!