Resistor Wheelsets

[fwright]

Stardust

Hi all,

Considering my layout planning, and the opportunity to include both DCC detection, transponding and signalling, I've got a few questions:

1. What effect does running resistor wheelsets have on a DC layout (for running at the local club)?

Resistor wheel sets and current detection were in use long before DCC was a gleam in anybody's eye.  The problem is and always has been how many wheel sets have resistors, and what is the current detection sensitivity.  If the operational scheme says that just the caboose and engine have to be detected, life is pretty good.  But if a cut of cars has to be detected, that's a different story.  In detecting every car, the usual practice is to just put resistors on one wheel set on a car.  This prevents the paralleling of a 100 resistors over 25 cars, and the consequent loading of the power supplies.

Current detection is easier with DCC due to the constant voltage on the track.

2.  Are there any issues with shorting I should consider if I break the layout into 2 seperate power districts?

Can't think of any.  Perhaps somebody with more DCC experience would know more.

3.  If used with an AR1 autoreverser do the wheelsets cause issues when crossing the 'gap' between rails if they are set at opposing polarities? I am thinking in terms of the entire consist, not simply to loco's. 

The autoreverser is triggered by a metal wheel shorting the gap between 2 rail pieces (on the same side of the track) that are of opposite polarity.  The resistor's high resistance would have no impact on this triggering.

Fred W

[Hamltnblue]

Wow, a club layout that is still DC .

I don't think you will have any issues and haven't heard of any when used with DC.

Consider though that the resistance of  a loco motor is much lower than numerous wheelsets in parallel.

I believe the wheelsets are typically 10k.

[Stardust]

Hi all,

Considering my layout planning, and the opportunity to include both DCC detection, transponding and signalling, I've got a few questions:

1. What effect does running resistor wheelsets have on a DC layout (for running at the local club)?
2. Are there any issues with shorting I should consider if I break the layout into 2 seperate power districts?
3. If used with an AR1 autoreverser do the wheelsets cause issues when crossing the 'gap' between rails if they are set at opposing polarities? I am thinking in terms of the entire consist, not simply to loco's.

As a note, on the home layout I am interested in standardizing with Digitrax products, using a BDL168, SE8C and an RX4.  Club layout is DC, and there are a few DCC layouts that i have access too.

cheers n thanks in advance.