I've tried to wire a reverse loop and have come to wits end. Does anyone make house calls?
Eric
ericturin wrote: I've tried to wire a reverse loop and have come to wits end. Does anyone make house calls?Eric
Try this:
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1845
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
We didn't wire for DCC, we're operating from an MRC two cab unit.
This link will take you to an article on the NMRA web site about wiring reversing sections for DC layouts. It should help with your situation.
http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ex_plus.html
If you are going to have reversing loops or a wye in your layout, then DCC is a much better solution.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
First, is it gapped and thus severed from the rest of the layout? Is there a true and complete gap in both rails at each end of your reversing loop or section? No rail bits or bits of metal or wire that might be bridging what you intend to be gaps? Have you vacuumed?
Secondly, all the section or loop needs is one set of feeders. Place them anywhere on the loop or section...doesn't matter where.
Those two feeders go into one set of end terminals on a DPDT-type switch.
Cut into those two feeders, anywhere along their length, is a set of similar feeders (soldered is fine) and they will terminate on the other pair of outer terminals on the DPDT.
The centre pair of terminals gets the power and signal right from your power source or DCC controller box.
Now, when you flick the toggle from one side or another, your track section will get the reverse of what the controller sends it via the centre posts and feeders. When you flick the toggle, the terminals on the end left by the toggle become open and do not get power. Instead, the power now comes from the other end of the switch, which is internally reversed by the DPDT.
Note- when doing the wiring, keep the same colour code of wire feeder to the same terminals on each end...the same side, in other words. You needn't cross the feeders because you will defeat the internal crossing that the switch does for you. No reversing if you do that.
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That takes care of the installation. The way it is used, or implemented, is another topic all together. If you don't have the toggle in the correct position for the engine to continue in the first instance, you will get the requisite short indication very quickly. So, you have to be alert and aware of how to orient the power so that you don't get a short depending on the direction of entry to the reversing section. You'll have to learn that by trial and error.