The Digitrax AR-1 must be manually adjusted and can be a pain. I always seem to have trouble going from single engine to 4 or 5 unit consist. I even had trouble going from a blue box Athearn to an new Atlas engine.
South Penn
rrinker Never had a problem using the AR-1. When properly adjusted they are as reliable as any. ANd a whole lot cheaper. There's nothing wrong with relays. In some ways they are MORE robust than solid state switches, especially when switching an inductive load (motors - like your trains). The only place they won't work is downstream of a non-adjustable device like the PSX breakers.
Never had a problem using the AR-1. When properly adjusted they are as reliable as any. ANd a whole lot cheaper. There's nothing wrong with relays. In some ways they are MORE robust than solid state switches, especially when switching an inductive load (motors - like your trains). The only place they won't work is downstream of a non-adjustable device like the PSX breakers.
Rich
Alton Junction
Never had a problem using the AR-1. When properly adjusted they are as reliable as any. ANd a whole lot cheaper. There's nothing wrong with relays. In some ways they are MORE robust than solid state switches, especially when switching an inductive load (motors - like your trains). The only place they won't work is downstream of a non-adjustable device like the PSX breakers. But I've been using PM-42s and their relays because they give me Loconet feedback with no extra devices. ANd Despite deliberately loading a bunch of sound locos in one section, I had no problems with the inrush preventing the breaker from resetting when the short was removed. Some people claim they can't get a PM-42 to reset with as little as one sound loco - I say either it is adjusted wrong or the wiring is sub par. My plan is to avoid autoreversers altogether than just prevent the short. Swich machine contacts shouldn;t switch high loads if you want them to last, but adding a $5 relay accomplishes the reversing without waiting for the short.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Digitrax Auto reversers and the 1940's relay they use, don't work well with multiple unit consist. I am removing my Digitrax Auto Reversers and replcing them with DCC Specialties PSX-AR Power Shield Auto Reverser / Circuit Breaker. There are a number of models of this auto reverser. I am installing the model that also changes the switch automaticaly and the polarity.
Hello All,
I went with the MRC AD520.
Once I installed it correctly I have had no problems on my Wye. This Wye is used to turn the USRA 0-6-0.
Don't let the MSRP fool you I picked one up for around $35.00.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
You might consider the PSX-AR for the wye and an AR-1 for the other reversing section. The solid state AR will probably work better in the case of reversing section limited by the length of the wye legs. I have not tried to use them together on the same bus. I will most likely be upgrading to the PSX-AR myself, as I plan to install CBs throughout the layout.
CGW121 I need to buy it yet, but wanted to understand it first. I will get two of the AR-1s.
I need to buy it yet, but wanted to understand it first. I will get two of the AR-1s.
CGW121 Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
Is it a Digitrax AR-1?
Here is a link to the previous conversation complete with explanations and other users.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/229859.aspx
Note: we shortened our staging yard this year so the entire thing will fit in a Mini van. this necesitated eliminating the wye. As of the 2015 Amherst show it was still operating.
Edit: I hate using my iphone for making posts. It will not make a hyperlink.
Idealy the train is shorter than an auto reversing section, however this is not always possible. In the situation with the wye, your train will most likely be longer than the reversing section, unless you are using the wye only for locomotives. In any case the reversing section must be longer than your longest locomotive to prevent your locomotive from shorting out by touching both sides of the mismatch that required the installation of the reverser. I would go so far as to say that a good rule of thumb for minimum length would be to have your reversing section longer than your longest consist as a minimum. The PSX-AR and AR-1 are both good products and either should work for you.
CGW121 So it takes the place of the DPDT switch? Does train length matter?
So it takes the place of the DPDT switch? Does train length matter?
Yes it does.
That is a matter of contention. I posed this question a while back. Until a recent rebuilding project, my club had a psx-ar controlling the entrance to a staging yard via a wye. The reversing section was on one leg of the wye. And the layout has operated at the amherst show in springfield for 10 years. The revesing section is ~1.5ft long. On my home layout I have a wye with a 2ft revesing section powered by an AR1. Longer than the longest locomotive you own seems to be the minimum requirement.
CGW121 I have a couple places I would like to install auto reversers. In looking online at the directions it shows 4 wires but it is connected to a reversing loop. Neither place on my layout is a reversing loop like the directions show, one is a Y the other is off a bridge. In both places there are 2 places where there is the potential for a short. I am using a DPDT toggle now but would like to use the auto reversers.
I have a couple places I would like to install auto reversers. In looking online at the directions it shows 4 wires but it is connected to a reversing loop. Neither place on my layout is a reversing loop like the directions show, one is a Y the other is off a bridge. In both places there are 2 places where there is the potential for a short. I am using a DPDT toggle now but would like to use the auto reversers.
No I meant Digitrax, thats the system I have. And it just occured to me how to wire it.
Generically, and if you are positive there is a location where a metal wheel across a gapped length of rail anywhere in your system is necessarily going to cause a conflict in phase/polarity, you must switch that polarity somehow. Once you know you must do this switching, you must power one side of an auto reverser with two wires on its input posts, and the other posts are outputs for two feeders to an isolated length of track. That's it. Period.
DCC Specialties (is that what you meant...not Digitraxx?) makes the PSX series, or did many years ago when I got my AR. They explain in detail what you must do, including cutting dual gaps at each extremity of the gapped length of track if your trains are going to be longer than what can be contained in any two gaps. However, you power the inputs of the AR with feeders coming off the bus, or co-terminated on your base DCC unit's outputs. On the other side of the AR's board are two more output terminals for feeders to anywhere in the isolated track whose polarity/phase you must control.
There will be other niggling adjustments you must make to the AR as you go, such as its reactivity, and I think it needs to be programmed with an address, but I don't remember after all these years...sorry.
Bottom line, if a guy with average intelligence (me) can put it all together and enjoy it for ten years, I'm sure you can.