Hi all, thanks in advance for responding. I am a newbie with a first time layout. I have a reverse loop but don't know how to wire it. I will use plastic joiners to separate it from the mainline. I will have feeders going to that section. when the train exits the turnout will it short out or will my Digitrax DCC system handle that or do I have to have some type of reversing piece on it? I thought having the gap in the track took care of the polarity change. You advice is appreciated. Thanks!
The key is to totally isolate the reverse loop from the rest of the layout. That usually means more than one pair of plastic joiners. Then you need something to reverse and match the polarities, either a DPDT toggle switch or an auto-reverser.
What type of Digitrax DCC system do you own?
Any chance of a track diagram?
Rich
Alton Junction
You also need a separate set of bus/feeder wires for the reverse loop itself. The reverse loop's bus goes to an auto-reverse unit. There are several manufacturers who make auto-reversers. Digitrax is fine, but you are not locked into it by your choice of system. They all play together well.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
In terms of wiring a reverse loop, you can always run a pair of feeders from the bus to the input side of the DPDT or auto-reverser and a pair of feeders from the output side of the DPDT or auto-reverser to the reverse loop. That way, you won't need a separate bus for the reverse loop.
Sometimes it's as easy as a pair of gaps at each end of the section to be reversed and suitable wiring. Sometimes you are advised to have two pairs of staggered gaps, with the second set at each end set apart from the other by just over the length of your longest truck on your rolling stock...for example a three axle truck on a heavyweight. (That part comes from the instructions for the PSX series from DCCSpecialities).
Aside from the gaps at each end, and I would not consider plastic joiners because I don't like their looks, you must feed the section of reversing rail with its own set of feeders, but controlled by some kind of switch or a reversing unit. The power comes off the same bus as that which controls the rest of the layout, but it must offer you the capability of having its phase or polarity reversed from what it currently is. That is why the switch or reverser is wired in series between the bus for the entire layout and the section to be reversed.
Thanks for the reply I have a Digitrax Zephyr DCS50 that I bought several years ago I'm working off of a plan in my head which may have been a mistakE. I've started and stopped a few times. Basically it's a reverse loop on each end with a organized mess in the middle.
I would recommend any DCC reverser EXCEPT the Digitax unit. The Digitrax reverser uses 1950's technology (a mechanical relay ) and it must be adjusted manually; a real pain. It also seems to have problems with MU setups.
I have been replacing the Digitrax stuff with DCC Specialties.
http://tonystrains.com/product/onguard-og-ar/
I also have a HO layout with reverse loops at each end and a short mainline between. I used the OG-ARs on the ends and the OG on the main, creating 3 dcc sub-districts. The OGs work fine and have connections for LED power indicators I put on the control panel, so I can see where a short has occurred.
I consulted with Tonys to make my choice. There are fancier, adjustable reversers but it was projected I would not need that. I wanted non-relay (electronic) reversers. Suggest discuss with Tonys on yor layout, DCC system, etc.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
richhotrain In terms of wiring a reverse loop, you can always run a pair of feeders from the bus to the input side of the DPDT or auto-reverser and a pair of feeders from the output side of the DPDT or auto-reverser to the reverse loop. That way, you won't need a separate bus for the reverse loop. Rich
Well, maybe. Running a single pair of feeders to the loop will probably work, but I'd recommend a bus for the same reason that we use them on the mains. I prefer more feeders to fewer feeders, generally at least one pair of feeders for every couple of sections of track. This distributes the power better even on perfect track, and once the layout starts getting older, it reduces the problem of losing power when rail joiners work loose or get ballast glue inside them.
WILLIAM TARBOX I've started and stopped a few times. Basically it's a reverse loop on each end with a organized mess in the middle.
I've started and stopped a few times. Basically it's a reverse loop on each end with a organized mess in the middle.
You should have an auto-reverser for each individual reverse loop.
As for "which reverser to get," I won't get into the oft-heard discussion of wheter a relay-based autoreverser is good enough. I will say, though, that my own reversers came from Tony's Trains. They are the old PS-REV model, which is no longer made. They've been in service for 10 years and still work perfectly.
MisterBeasley richhotrain In terms of wiring a reverse loop, you can always run a pair of feeders from the bus to the input side of the DPDT or auto-reverser and a pair of feeders from the output side of the DPDT or auto-reverser to the reverse loop. That way, you won't need a separate bus for the reverse loop. Rich Well, maybe. Running a single pair of feeders to the loop will probably work, but I'd recommend a bus for the same reason that we use them on the mains. I prefer more feeders to fewer feeders, generally at least one pair of feeders for every couple of sections of track. This distributes the power better even on perfect track, and once the layout starts getting older, it reduces the problem of losing power when rail joiners work loose or get ballast glue inside them.
richhotrain If you want more than one pair of feeders to the reverse loop, just pigtail the feeders together and connect the pair of pigtails to the output side of the auto-reverser.
If you want more than one pair of feeders to the reverse loop, just pigtail the feeders together and connect the pair of pigtails to the output side of the auto-reverser.
It will always depend on the layout itself. My longer reverse loop is about 12 feet end to end, contains a passing track and 5 stub-end sidings. There's close to 40 linear feet of track and 9 turnouts inside the loop. For power distribution over that much track a bus-feeder system will work better thanks to the thicker diameter of the bus wire, and will probably be more reliable than daisy-chaining small-wire feeders.