Hi, I'm new to n-scale model railroading (less than a year). I use Kato track and JMRI DCC++ running on an arduino and a Raspberry PI. I have a two track helix that exits one track to a reverse loop. Inside the reverse loop are a crossing, a double crossover, and 3 turnouts. (see drawing). I have only one power district because the layout is so small. Though I currently isolate at most of the turnouts and provide feeders for each isolated section so I can add power districts later, probably one for the lower table and one for the upper table.
I have one AR-10 autoreverser and was going to hook it up as instructed. However, I got to thinking about the crossover and the switches that exit the loop to other loops. Should I hook the AR-10 to the main buss on the Main track side and the loop wires inside into the gapped loop? If I do, will it work properly when the train exits at either of the two turnouts or the double crossover? I'm concerned that all the isolated sections of track won't trip the AR-10. Should I not have anything gapped/isolated except the reverse loop? Do I need more AR-10s? Here is my layout's top table. The reverse loop is the dark track. Thanks for your help.
Your diagram is not visible. Please read the photo posting thread in General Discussion. Also, as a new member, you will be moderated for several posts, so your new posts won't appear immediately.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Scott, welcome to the forum. As mentioned, your first posts won't appear immediately, but after several, things will be normal.
If you do not have a photo hosting site, I use imgur:
https://imgur.com/
It is a free hosting site.
When you upload a photo to imgur, click on it and a menu will appear. Pick the item called "BBCode". That will copy your picture.
Then paste that into your forum post. You will not see the photo when you paste, but it will appear when you submit your post.
Good luck.
York1 John
York1Then paste that into your forum post. You will not see the photo when you paste, but it will appear when you submit your post.
Just paste, don't use the link or photo icons.
Don't try to out think or cheat on the instructions. You may think you have successfully posted a link to google photos, but the rest of us won't see it.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Without seeing the diagram, as long as only one train can enter or leave at a time, despitre the three exists, you would do nothing different - isolate the loop portion at all possible exits. With DCC, you are changing the polarity if the loop to match where the train is existing, so it doesn't matter if there is more than one exit. If the track plan allows for two trains to enter the loop at the same time using two of the three routes at the same time, then the track plan and/or the location of the reversing section will need to be adjusted.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Scott?
Alton Junction
Sorry, I didn't reply to this more quickly - as you can imagine things have been rather stressful with all that has been going on and I've been pretty busy and preoccupied with family things. thank you for your patience. I think this is the correct link for the picture?
The blue section is the reverse loop. The helix goes down to the lower level and another reverse loop will be down there. the helix will be the same polarization as the main trackage. The upper reverse loop seems to be working properly with an AR-10 isolated and wired as indicated by Randy (thanks) as the Reverse Loop on the upper table is only used to go and return from the helix, It is doubtful I would have more than one train entering or exiting the reverse loop at a time on the upper table.
On the lower table, it is primarily a large facsimile of the Ohio Central Newark Rail Yard and some spurs for industries. So it is possible that more than one train would be coming and going in and out of the lower reverse loop with switching operations. I'll try to upload a picture of the lower level as well.
thank you for your help.
Here is the lower table with the reverse loop shown in blue. I'm thinking that I isolate the reverse loop at all the possible exits and just wire the AR-10 as usual? How will switching operations be affected with trains coming and going from the helix?