I have what I believe to be a two part question? After seeing what all of you have done with the Double Crossover under "DC Switch Wiring Problem", I have waited to ask for your help with my Shinohara Double Crossover using DCC. I am new at this also. The Double Crossover is used between mains to allow other trains to pass in both directions and there will be several around this same double main tracks as they ascend and descend with single track reverse loops at each end. Basically, forming blocks sized to handle my longest consist between the switches and in the loops. I liked the look of the Shinohara and do not know if it will use frog juicers or not? My smallest lok is an Athearn 4-8-4 which should not need electrofrogs, but it would be nice to have them for others?
Secondly, I need help to both wire and to purchase from venders parts for this Double Crossover using two Tortoise Switches (?) and using cable extensions for the other two switches so they work in unison.
As a newbie, I hope this makes sense?
Joel Dethlefs
Joel,
If you have the Walthers Shinohara double crossovers,,it will be a lot easier to wire,than the crossover.on the other thread,,the turnouts you have are DCC Friendly,with unpowered frogs..........What would be extremely helpful,,if you could post a sketch of the track plan,,for you say you have a reverse loop and that requires different wiring and auto reverser's ..Anyone answering your post will have a easier time with explaining with a plan...
Cheers,
Frank
Thank you Frank, I didn't know if I needed juicers or not and that has been answered. The double mains are a very large helix that circles around and through a mountain with four timed passenger station stops and timed freight stops for produce and livestock as the trains traverse in circles both ways from East to West and back. Thank you for reminding me about the reversers for the passenger return loops as I have not purchased them as yet. Have you used any reversers that stood the test of time without frying the wheels. As I live in Europe, Lenz units are my controllers, most all manufactures DCC accessories work well with this system and their offices are here for repairs. As regards a track plan, If the helix was straightened out it would look like a huge dogbone with numerous Double Crossovers in between to create blocks for passing. I can only hope this idea of blocks will work once a computer is hooked up. Having dreams is the best part.
Let me tackle your second question first. While linkages can be installed to run a double crossover with two Tortoises, I decided to forego all of the issues associated with such linkages and just installed four Tortoises for each of my double crossovers. In spite of the added cost, I would encourage you to do the same.
As to your first question, is the double crossover being used as the end of a reverse loop or is the double crossover simply going to be wired to match polarities on both the upper and the lower track with the reversing sections occurring away from the double crossover?
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich, I agree with your use of 4 Tortoise and I will take your advice for those directly above the substrate. However, many of these Double Crossovers (8) occur in a large oval helix. I do not have the space to place the machines directly under the switches due to height restrictions between substrate and the track below. I am hoping for ideas to offset these machines to the inside of the helix substrate using four or two machines. The outside of the helix is covered with scenery. Do you feel the cable throws create more problems than using a switch machine directly to the switch.
The last dual main Double Crossovers are at each end of the dogbone which lead into two short pieces of straight track thus ending the main before entering the loops. I was planning to cut and insulate these two straight tracks leading into the reverse loops. These loops are the turnarounds from one side of the dual mains to the other side. Will this work? I use Lenz and most all reverser modules will work. Do you have a preference for a high speed reverser module?
Thank you for your experienced insight
As long as you are using Tortoises, plan to use the built-in contacts to power your frogs. It's easier to solder the wires to the frog and Tortoise during installation than to do it later. Eventually, you will have a small switcher or trolley car out there, or illuminated passenger cars, and the unpowered frogs will be a problem.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I'm still thinking,that some form of sketch,of your proposed idea,would be very helpful to anyone who would be willing to help,,,,I'm guessing,that you do not have it set up yet and are asking for what will work??
JDberlin Rich, I agree with your use of 4 Tortoise and I will take your advice for those directly above the substrate. However, many of these Double Crossovers (8) occur in a large oval helix. Do you feel the cable throws create more problems than using a switch machine directly to the switch.
Rich, I agree with your use of 4 Tortoise and I will take your advice for those directly above the substrate. However, many of these Double Crossovers (8) occur in a large oval helix.
Do you feel the cable throws create more problems than using a switch machine directly to the switch.
I don't think that the cable throws create problems once they are correctly installed. It just seems to me that the installation of the cable throws are time consuming and somewhat tricky. So, if you had the space, the installation of four Tortoises seems preferable to two.
With four Tortoises in place, I can control movements over the entire double crossover with a flip of a DPDT switch.
JDberlin I use Lenz and most all reverser modules will work. Do you have a preference for a high speed reverser module?
I use Lenz and most all reverser modules will work. Do you have a preference for a high speed reverser module?
Personally, I use the Digitrax AR-1 as my auto-reverser, and I have five of them operating on my layout.
Some of our fellow forum members prefer the DCC Specialties PSX-AR since it is solid state versus the mechanical relay on the AR-1, but I have never had any problems with the AR-1, and the PSX-AR seems unduly complicated for my liking.
zstripe I'm still thinking,that some form of sketch,of your proposed idea,would be very helpful to anyone who would be willing to help,,,,I'm guessing,that you do not have it set up yet and are asking for what will work??
I agree with Frank that a drawing or sketch of the proposed track plan would be helpful to visualize what you are planning to do. The lack of a drawing may explain the lack of responses to your question.
Let me ask you this. At the end of a double crossover, does each mainline track lead into its own separate reversing loop?