I know DC locomotives will run on DCC powered layouts, but what happens when that DC locomotive gets to a reversing section on the layout? I think I know the answer but some additional opinions would be appreciated.
John
The Dames Point Industrial Railroad
http:\\dpirr.blogspot.com
It won't work, it will reverse direction when the reverser changes polarity, so it will basically just short and get stuck at the block boundary.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I wonder if that is the answer that the OP had in mind?
Of course, the question that I now have in my mind is, why would you want to do that?
Rich
Alton Junction
That was the answer that I expected but was hoping I was wrong. The answer to your question is "because it doesn't have a decoder in in yet." I just bought one off E-Bay.
Note that not all DCC systems support running DC locos from address 0. NCE does not. Digitrax does. Not sure about other systems.
There are also many limitations to running DC locos on DCC systems (that support it). They should not be used for more than short periods at a time, due to overheating the motor in the loco. Do not idle the loco for very long at all for the same reason.
Andy
jbu50 That was the answer that I expected but was hoping I was wrong. The answer to your question is "because it doesn't have a decoder in in yet." I just bought one off E-Bay.
Ahhh, in that case, be patient and wait to get that decoder installed before running the loco on your layout. No sense taking chances with the motor.
rrinker It won't work, it will reverse direction when the reverser changes polarity, so it will basically just short and get stuck at the block boundary.
Depending on the reverser, I suppose, you could end up with a different problem. When a DC engine enters a reverse section, the auto-reverse will match the polarity to that of the entrance track. When it gets to the other end, the auto-reverse will flip the polarity of the loop. This will cause the DC engine to reverse direction, and it will ping-pong back and forth.
But, the OP has already figured it out. The only good solution is to equip all the engines with decoders.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The loco will enter the reversing section with no problem - if the phases of the two sections match nothing happens, if they do not match the reversing section will reverse to match the non-reversing section and the loco will continue as if nothing happend. When leaving the reversing section is when you can have a problem. If the phases match, still no problem; however, if they do not match(and they would not if you have just traveled through the reversing section from the other boundary) then the reversing section will reverse to match the non-reversing section, which will cause the loco to reverse. If you do nothing else, the loco will continue in the reverse direction until it gets back to the other boundary where it will reverse direction again.
Although some will tell you otherwise, you can actually use an auto-reverser if you run DC locos. One option, if you can live with it, is to simply make sure you are runninng slow whenever you try to leave a reversing section. If the loco reverses, simply stop and change directions on the throttle. The phases at that boundary will now match and the loco will pass on through.
Another option is to have the non-reversing part of the layout powered through a DPDT switch. After you enter the reversing section, throw the DPDT switch for the rest of the layout so that it's phase matches the reversing section at the boundary that you are going to exit the reversing section through.
Hi there, what do you mean by "a reversing section of the layout". I am very new to model railing, I have a ho layout running 3 tracks, I am using DCC.
Robbo6142 Hi there, what do you mean by "a reversing section of the layout". I am very new to model railing, I have a ho layout running 3 tracks, I am using DCC.
The polarity of each rail must be consistently maintained across the layout. If the polarities are crossed, a short will occur, bringing things to a halt.
Depending upon the track configuration, the rails on two adjoining sections of track may not have matching polarities. For example, a section of track that loops back onto itself will have mismatched, or reversed, polarities.
To avoid a short, the rails must be gapped at the point of reverse polarity, and a "reversing section" of track must be created by placing additional gaps in the rails further back from the point of reverse polarity.
By isolating, or gapping, a reversing section of track, the polarity of the rails within the reversing section may be flipped to match the polarity of the adjoining section of track, thereby preventing a short as the locomotive crosses the gaps.