I am experiencing some frustration getting an Automatic Reversing Unit produced by Minitronics to operate. I installed it via the directions on a separate power pack. I am confident it is working right as I have the power pack hooked up through the panel of Auto Reversing Unit. I am able to control the train as far as reverse and forward from the power pack, but I am unable to get the auto reversing part to work. I cannot get the train to go back and forth by it self. I have tried to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors but I cannot get the LED light on the panel of the Auto Rev. Unit to work. I would appreciate any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong. I thought it would be so easy to get hooked up.
As an owner of 4 Digitrax AR-1 auto-reverse units, I must confess that I was not even aware that Miniatronics makes an auto-reverse unit. However, after I read this post, I went to the Miniatronics web site to see what information was there on the operation of the unit.
There is not much information there other than the comment that the unit operates only on 12 volt DC power. Since a DC power pack is provided with the unit, I assume that you are using that power pack.
Since you can control forward and reverse movements of the loco with your power pack, if the auto reversing unit is not working, there are several possibilities.
One is that the unit is faulty or the sensitivity of the sensors is not adjusted properly. But, if everything is OK in that regard, the problem is either in the track wiring or the gapping of the rails to completely isolate the reversing section.
You mention that the LED light on the panel of the auto reversing unit does not work. Again, I am unfamiliar with this particular unit, but is the LED supposed to be lit at all times or only when the unit is activated to reverse polarities?
Are you sure that you have a reversing section? Are you experiencing shorts when the loco enters the reversing section? Tell us more.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have my reversing unit hooked up using a seperate power pack and then there is a transformer that I hooked up also. There are 9 hook up terminals and the Auto Reverse panel. On side hooks up the wire to the power pack and then the 2 wires out to the track. That part works. The other side has hook ups for the transformer and then the wires that are conected to the light sensors. That is the side I am having issues with. There are 2 green LED light on the Auto reverse panel that u can use to change the light sensativity. As the directions say they are suppose to be on and then there is a little dial to turn and once the light goes off then the light sensativity for the room is set. I wonder if ther is a short being made with the wires from the light sensor going through the plywood under the track. i wonder if I need to use the shrink wrap tubing over the wire. Anyway Frustrating. I have had this Auto reversing unit for quite time time and jsut kind of recently got the confidence to try and hook it up.
Curt,
I assume that your layout is DC, not DCC.
Since the unit is called an Automatic Reversing Unit, I further assume that there is no other device such as a DPDT switch required to reverse the polarities.
So, if it is an auto-reverse unit running on a DC layout, what do the instructions say, if anything, about matching polarities between the layout power pack and the Miniatronics wall wart?
Would help if we could see a schematic of your wiring, and also of the instructions. I looked on there site (Minitronics) and found no manuals, Did I overlook it?
Would help if we could see a schematic of your wiring, and also of the instructions.
I looked on there site (Minitronics) and found no manuals, Did I overlook it?
richhotrain Curt, I assume that your layout is DC, not DCC. Since the unit is called an Automatic Reversing Unit, I further assume that there is no other device such as a DPDT switch required to reverse the polarities. So, if it is an auto-reverse unit running on a DC layout, what do the instructions say, if anything, about matching polarities between the layout power pack and the Miniatronics wall wart? Rich
My first question, as always, is did you contact Miniatronics with your question? Since they still seem to show the unit, or a cousin, on their website, I would think that they might have someone there to help you.
Secondly, I think this is not an automatic reversing unit in the sense we normally think here, which would be for a loop of some kind. My impression is that this is more a device that makes a train stop at the end of the line, and then reverse itself to go backwards. Is that correct?
And finally, from the little information they have on the website, it appears to me that the power supply they give with the unit is to power the unit itself and has nothing to do with track power. Is that also correct?
maxman My first question, as always, is did you contact Miniatronics with your question? Since they still seem to show the unit, or a cousin, on their website, I would think that they might have someone there to help you. Secondly, I think this is not an automatic reversing unit in the sense we normally think here, which would be for a loop of some kind. My impression is that this is more a device that makes a train stop at the end of the line, and then reverse itself to go backwards. Is that correct? And finally, from the little information they have on the website, it appears to me that the power supply they give with the unit is to power the unit itself and has nothing to do with track power. Is that also correct?
maxman,
I think that you are right. After I read your reply, I went back to the Miniatronics site and read the item description once again. It is, indeed, a unit to reverse direction for a trolley, etc.
I was hoping that the site had a download for the operating manual, but no luck.
I think that is part of the frustration, the instructions/directions aren't that good as is the website not very helpful..Thanks for the help.
Curt, tell us this. What are you trying to do with this Automatic Reversing Unit?
Are you trying to automatically reverse equipment like a trolley car at the end of a run of track? Or is the unit supposed to reverse polarity to avoid shorts in a reversing section of track?
Are you running in DC or DCC?
I run DC and I am using it on a run of track siding like a trolley car to go back and forth on that sperate block of track.
A couple of suggestions,
One, call Miniatronics and discuss your problem. See if they have any advice or comment.
Two, I don't know how lengthy the instruction are, but is there any way you can post the instructions or email a PDF file of the instruction sheets?
Curt, your reply is blank. Try again.
Before you do, if you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, click on Tool, Compatabilty View.
Here is another forum member with a similar problem:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/171172.aspx
As per instructions from Miniatronics, reverse polarity on the wall wart, mine now works perfectly! Bill
Tennhillbilly As per instructions from Miniatronics, reverse polarity on the wall wart, mine now works perfectly! Bill
I ran into this exact problem tonight and reversing the polarity fixed mine as well.