I have what I beleive is a WYE and not sure how to go about finalizing the wiring.
One track meets the other but in reverse polarity. i have placed plastic rail joiners to reduce the possibility of a short circuit but when I try to connect say a MRC AD520 (auto reversing module) i still get a short circuit.
Not sure how to proceed with this dilema i created. Any suggestions?
Thaank you
You have to isolate both legs of the "Y".
A reversing section must be COMPLETELY isolated from the rest of the layout.
If that doesn't answer your question, please post a diagram.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
As Phoebe Vet said, to avoid a short in a reverse polarity situation, you must create an isolated reversing section by gapping the rails in way that permits the entire train to occupy the reversing section. Otherwise, a part of the train is going to be on a section of track with polarity reversed from the other section of track, thereby creating a short.
Rich
Alton Junction
Yes, one of the three legs of your triangular 'wye' must be gapped at each end and powered with its own set of feeders. However, the feeders to that one gapped length must also have the power polarity manipulable via either a DPDT or an electronic reverser such as the PSX-AR.
Technically, your train can be longer than the reversed section, but there are some additional points you need to think about if this is what you are faced with practically. First, your gaps should be staggered across from each other by about 1/4" or so, and you also need a second set of gaps inboard of the ones you make closest to the turnouts on either end. The distance between gaps must be just a hair longer than the longest metal truck in your consist. In my case, it is the metal three-axle trucks on my Walthers heavyweight passenger cars.
-Crandell
the other responses have explained this, but a picture may help. I found it on the NMRA Wiring Basics page
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
That will certainly work, but it creates a very short reversing section. If you use metal wheels you need a reversing section long enough to hold the longest train that will go through it. There are several places that you can put the pair of insulators. Which is best for you depends on where the three legs of the "Y" go from here. Can you post a diagram of the entire track plan? That diagram is for a DC layout.
Phoebe VetThat will certainly work, but it creates a very short reversing section. If you use metal wheels you need a reversing section long enough to hold the longest train that will go through it.
do you need to turn a whole train, or jsut the engine?
RayRod I have what I beleive is a WYE and not sure how to go about finalizing the wiring. One track meets the other but in reverse polarity. i have placed plastic rail joiners to reduce the possibility of a short circuit but when I try to connect say a MRC AD520 (auto reversing module) i still get a short circuit. Not sure how to proceed with this dilema i created. Any suggestions? update 12/2 Thank you to everyone in assisting. 1) I will try to post a diagram of my layout 2) I do have a reverse switch which is made by MRC as indicated on my initial post. 3) The loop and or leg is 16 feet long so there is plenty of room for a train with many cars to be inside the leg before it comes out. 4) This section has feeder drops every 3 ft. Since i beleice I have the bear bones covered.... where does the reverser get placed? in the middle of the stretch for the yellow wires and the red which are to be attached to the main line? Thanks again folks. very much appreciated. Thaank you
update 12/2
Thank you to everyone in assisting.
1) I will try to post a diagram of my layout
2) I do have a reverse switch which is made by MRC as indicated on my initial post.
3) The loop and or leg is 16 feet long so there is plenty of room for a train with many cars to be inside the leg before it comes out.
4) This section has feeder drops every 3 ft.
Since i beleice I have the bear bones covered.... where does the reverser get placed? in the middle of the stretch for the yellow wires and the red which are to be attached to the main line?
Thanks again folks. very much appreciated.
The MRC AD520 has four wires, two red and two yellow. The red wires are the input side of the reversing unit and are connected to the main bus wires. The yellow wires are the output side of the reversing unit. Any and all feeder wires inside the reversing section must be connected to the yellow wires. Just be sure to correctly and fully gap the reversing section to completely isolate it from the main layout. Another option is to wire the output side of the auto-reverser to a separate set of bus wires.