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DO I need to isolate between switches?

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Sunday, February 17, 2013 4:30 PM

With TMCC you can do it either way you want depending on how you want to configure the base units, TPC(s), and BPC(s).   As the prior poster suggested your best friend is the documentation for the TMCC system itself.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alabama
  • 1,077 posts
Posted by cjcrescent on Saturday, February 16, 2013 1:04 PM

quizshow904

...I will be using Lionel TMCC.

Then check the instructions on the TMCC. There should be a section on doing this very thing, although they may only give instructions for two tracks, just repeat for the third.

Carey

Keep it between the Rails

Alabama Central Homepage

Nara member #128

NMRA &SER Life member

  • Member since
    October 2012
  • From: Birmingham, AL
  • 64 posts
Posted by quizshow904 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 4:43 AM

The answer is Yes. Each loop will have it's own power supply. I am going to have 3 loops on 3 power supplies running 3 trains. But I want to be able to part a train on it's loop and bring another train in from the other loop. I will be using Lionel TMCC.

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Detroit, Michigan
  • 2,284 posts
Posted by Soo Line fan on Friday, February 15, 2013 10:18 PM

Do you want to park a engine or train while running another one? If so you would need to insulate and install a switch to shut off power.

Jim

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Friday, February 15, 2013 9:08 PM

Do the inter and outer loops have separate power supplies?  If so the answer is yes.    If all the outside rails are grounded it would do no good to insulate them.    The center rail would definitely need to be insulated. 

If they are both run on the same power pack then no.   With three rail track the center is always the center and the outside is always the outside regardless of how the track is configured, so there is no chance of short circuits like 2 rail systems.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, February 15, 2013 8:53 PM

If you are using O gauge 3 rail track then the two outside rails are the same, and the middle rail is the power. Call them Ground and Hot if you like, but I am sure that is not what LIONEL calls them.

Are you going to run two trains, or are you just running one train. If just one cab control, then I do not see why you would need any gaps, not even on a reversing loop.

But what does a LION know about it anyway. Him plays with HO.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    October 2012
  • From: Birmingham, AL
  • 64 posts
DO I need to isolate between switches?
Posted by quizshow904 on Friday, February 15, 2013 4:07 PM

In hooking up my 2 loops of track, I am using gargraves remote dz2500 switches. In going from the outer loop to the inner loop do I need to use insulating pins between the 2 switches? Is so which rail. I am grounding both the outside rails on my 3 rail gargraves phantom O guage track.

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