Whoops. I just finished building my Great Eastern Trunk in Ho scale. Well Im closer anyway.
Okay Here is my situation. I have not installed the controller. I have installed the switches and the selectors. I am using 2 transformers . Since I could not figure out how come I could not get 2 locos to work using different transformers (probably because I didnt have the controller) I blocked off several sections of track using 2 plastic track connectors, one on the common and the other on the other side. This enabled me to run my 2 different locos at the same time in different directions on different blocks of track of coarse. I can pull the locos on to another track with an adjustment from the selectors. My question is this.
Do I really need the controller that ties into the front of my selectors as shown in the "seven great layouts" Atlas book. What are the advantages of the Controller over the way I have it set up now. Should I go buy the controller and install it. Will I see a big difference.
The controller is used when you have a reverse loop. You don't need one if there is no reverse loop. For each block, as the train moves around, you flip the switches on the selector to either pack a or pack b, and back to the middle as the train leaves. The train following, you move the switches ont he selector to the opposite side. Thus you cna run two trains at any point on the layout, just not two in the same block.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
That particular layout has a turntable, thus the need for the Controller (when wiring with Atlas components). The Controller also has the function of setting up the master direction for each power pack..
As a number of folks told the original poster last time, if one chooses not to follow the directions and doesn't use all the parts specified, the layout probably won't work the way it was intended.
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Chitty Chitty ....I have installed the switches and the selectors. I am using 2 transformers . Since I could not figure out how come I could not get 2 locos to work using different transformers (probably because I didnt have the controller) I blocked off several sections of track using 2 plastic track connectors, one on the common and the other on the other side. This enabled me to run my 2 different locos at the same time in different directions on different blocks of track of coarse. I can pull the locos on to another track with an adjustment from the selectors. My question is this. Do I really need the controller that ties into the front of my selectors as shown in the "seven great layouts" Atlas book. What are the advantages of the Controller over the way I have it set up now. Should I go buy the controller and install it. Will I see a big difference.
....I have installed the switches and the selectors. I am using 2 transformers . Since I could not figure out how come I could not get 2 locos to work using different transformers (probably because I didnt have the controller) I blocked off several sections of track using 2 plastic track connectors, one on the common and the other on the other side. This enabled me to run my 2 different locos at the same time in different directions on different blocks of track of coarse. I can pull the locos on to another track with an adjustment from the selectors. My question is this.
As others have stated, the Controller is only used in conjunction with a reversing section. It adds nothing to the normal block control scheme when there is no reversing section. On the Great Eastern Trunk, the Controller is only for use with the Atlas turntable. No turntable, no Controller needed.
You never answered whether you have wired #215 Selectors as per the wiring diagram in "Seven Great Layouts". #205 Connectors don't work very well for 2 power pack/2 train operation - if you use the #205 Connectors you need a bank for each power pack, and a process for preventing both power packs from powering the same block at the same time. The #215 Selectors physically prevent both power packs from powering the same block at the same time.
If you have #215 Selectors installed, there is no need to put insulated rail joiners in the common rail. You can run 2 trains independently using 2 power packs and the Selectors to choose which power pack is controlling a given block at any time.
I strongly urge you to buy a wiring book - the Atlas book is a good one if you are using Atlas electrical components - to understand how block control works. The intuitive method of mulit-train operation is called section control, where control is transferred from one power pack to another as the train moves from one section to another. Section control has several issues when a train is spanning the insulated rail joiners or gaps between sections.
Block control (sometimes called cab control) assigns control of a train to the same power pack (cab or throttle) no matter where it goes on the layout.
The #215 Selectors allow you to operate in either section control or block control mode. For section control, select half the blocks to one power pack, and half to the other. Then never move the Selector switches. That is section control. For block control, if you are using power pack A for train #1, the Selector switches are moved to A for whatever block(s) are being used by train #1. Similarly, the Selector switches are set to B depending on the location of train #2. The rest should be centered or off.
hope this helps
Fred W
AH yes the DC days of yesteryear, how well I remember the Controllers,selectors,connectors, power pack "A", power pack "B" etc.
But that was yesteryear and now I enjoy DCC.
Probably the difference between a Model "T" ford and a Corvette.
But this is my opinion as each to his own.
Chitty Chitty as long as you have decided to start out with DC then do yourself a favor and listen to these people as they have a lot of DC under their belts and they DO know what they are talking about.
Have fun & good luck.
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.