Hi All,
First off I want to apologize because when it comes to wiring and DCC I am a and it all seems like magic when it works right.
I just completed a pretty extensive track modification of both main lines and about half way up my reverse loop removing the old Atlas switches and putting in PECO #5 Insulfrogs. My issue is power to the reverse loop. Both mains work great whether or not switch 1 is thrown until the loco goes over the insulated rail joiners on the approach to switch 1 when it set to the reverse loop.
When I try to run a Sound DCC K4 into it, it dies on switch 1 and sometimes shorts the Zephyr Xtra that runs the layout. The area between switch 1 & 2 is dead also.
The AR-1 is soldered to the track just past switch 1 in the reverse loop. Black towards the center of the layout and Red on the other side. This is reversed from the mains which have Red on the inside.
The only isolated rail joiners I have is one set on the inner main about 6 inches before switch 1 and one set at the other end of the reverse loop where it joins a siding (I have not touched this part).
I have read that you should not add power leads to the track in a reverse loop other than the reverse loop controller AR-1. The track is only nailed down at this point so changing something is relatively easy.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am very confused at this point.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Curt,
Could you post a drawing that shows the reverse loop and turnouts and how all this track connects together? That would make it easier to understand what you are trying to do.
Dave
From Mt Pleasant, Utah, the home of the Hill Valley and Thistle Railroad where the Buffalo still roam and a Droid runs the trains
Dave,
Here is a quick drawing of the inner main, sidings, and reverse loop. The 2 sidings at the top that go across both sides of the layout have no issues.
The insulated rail joiners shown in the lower left belong at the diverging end of switch one, right next to where you show the AR-1 hooked up. From the output of the AR-1 you can run a pair of bus wires and drop feeders from the coal trestle, container platform and 'reverse loop' track. That whole section in the center will then be reversed by the AR-1. The color of wires from the AR-1 output to the new reverse section bus is not important. The input to the AR-1 must come from the main inner track bus.
Let us know how this works for you.
Regards,
Sorry for my ignorance. I understand the idea of the buss wire and drop feeders, but will the buss wire work if it is not a loop? In other words do I need to make a loop for each buss wire like I did for the mains?
Thank you for your help. I will do all this on Thursday which is my next day off and let you know how it goes.
No, the bus wire does not need to be a loop, it is just a heavier gauge wire to distribute the power to the reversing section.
Good luck with this.
Between the time that I first saw this thread late last night and this morning, your photos and track diagram disappeared from the thread. But I recall enough of the track diagram to respond.
Dave got it right with his comment on the insulated rail joiners. The insulated rail joiners at the bottom of your diagram are misplaced and need to be moved to the divergent track of that lower turnout. That will isolate the entire reversing section, not only the diagonal section of track between the two turnouts but also the other track work including the coal trestle, container platform, etc. that connects to that reversing section of track. So, as Dave indicated, all of the track work between the insulated rail gaps becomes part of the reversing section.
As far as the AR-1 is concerned, a pair of wires from your main bus should be connected into the input side of the AR-1. Any and all feeder wires powering track inside the reversing section should be connected to the output side of the AR-1. There should be no feeder wires connected from the main bus directly to any track inside the reversing section.
Rich
Alton Junction
Dave and Rich- I go into work later than normal today so I had to work on the layout this morning. I followed your suggestions and success. First I metered everything with the switches in both directions to make sure I wired everything OK. Then I ran a K4 through all the leads forward and reverse a couple of times. The first time the loco died backing through the turnout on the main. I pulled it through and retested it without issue.
So it appears that the issue is fixed. Thursday I will do more testing to make sure but I am a happy camper at this point.
Thank you both for your assistance. I really appreciate it.
Glad to hear that it worked for you.