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wiring double main for a reverse loop

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  • Member since
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 9:59 PM

I’m with you guys, 49 years and 10 months in communications and electronics doesn’t count.  Been modeling in HO scale since 1951 and that doesn’t mean much either.


Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 9:42 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
And if current trends on this forum continue I suspect you will hear less and less from me.

There was a time when I read every single post. 

Now I look at the Recent Activity and think "Why is this thread still going?" and I might click on the Trackside Diner or the Show me Something threads, or I might just close the tab and not look at anything.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by JoeinPA on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 2:45 PM

Many of these threads remind me of faculty meetings I have attended in the past before I retired.

Joe

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 2:16 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Well I am surely not going to offer any suggestions based on how my knowledge was responed to in previous threads on the topic. It is clear that my 54 years at this hobby, and 44 years of electrical control design engineering experience is no longer needed on this forum.

I am in the same position.

After having successfully installed and wired many reverse loops going back to 1982, I have recently been informed that I know nothing, and all the experts are using Atlas Controllers, even though they cannot figure them out.

Laugh

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 2:08 PM

gregc

wow

 

That's right, wow. And if current trends on this forum continue I suspect you will hear less and less from me. I have houses to remodel and a layout to build.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by gregc on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 12:46 PM

wow

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 11:37 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Going to make more popcorn..

 

Sounds good, I will have some too.

Too bad for the OP that this devolved before he even had his question sorted out.

-Kevin

 

Well I am surely not going to offer any suggestions based on how my knowledge was responed to in previous threads on the topic. It is clear that my 54 years at this hobby, and 44 years of electrical control design engineering experience is no longer needed on this forum.

Sheldon 

    

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 10:19 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Going to make more popcorn..

Sounds good, I will have some too.

Too bad for the OP that this devolved before he even had his question sorted out.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 9:23 AM

Going to make more popcorn......

    

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 9, 2021 7:05 PM

J1984Bson
thank you its a double main all the way around the loop but if i have to run a single main around ill do that

I am a bit confused...

Is it a large double track balloon loop that makes up the reversing section, or is it a single balloon track connecting both sides of a double tracked mainline?

I think a track plan would help.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, August 9, 2021 5:04 PM

jjdamnit

Hello All, 

richhotrain
Let's assume... 

Let's not and wait for the OP to respond.

You know to "assume" makes an "ass" out of "u" & "me"!

Hope this helps. 

Well, of course, it doesn't help.

For one thing, no one else has waited including you.

Second, precedent tells us that the OP may never answer.

Third, there is a 50/50 chance that it is DCC in which case I have provided the answer.

Fourth, how about keeping your profanities to yourself...where they apply.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, August 9, 2021 5:00 PM

Hello All,

richhotrain
Let's assume...

Let's not and wait for the OP to respond.

You know to "assume" makes an "ass" out of "u" & "me"!

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, August 9, 2021 4:14 PM

Let's assume DCC.

Wire the entire double track mainline the same way except for the reversing section of track which should be isolated, gapped and wired so that any mismatched polarities can be corrected to match the non-reversing section of the double track mainline.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, August 9, 2021 3:52 PM

Hello All,

Lastspikemike
Wiring reverse loops for DC and for DCC are the same. The difference is where the reversing switch connects in order to correct the polarity within the reversing loop.

Not necessarily...

After gapping all rails in the reversing section(s); either using insulated rail joiners or a physical gap that has been insulated- -to prevent rail expansion and bridging the gap- -then the method of choice can be implemented.

The most common way to wire a reverse loop in DC is a DPDT toggle switch.

With DCC you can use a toggle switch or automate the process with a booster that can be set to a reversing module or you can use a stand-alone reversing unit.

On my DCC pike I use an MRC AD520 Auto Reverse unit on the wye.

The type of control between DC and DCC does make a difference.

Still waiting for the OP to respond to give advice to their particular situation.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 9, 2021 3:14 PM

Dots - Sign

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by J1984Bson on Monday, August 9, 2021 2:51 PM
thank you its a double main all the way around the loop but if i have to run a single main around ill do that
  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 9, 2021 1:42 PM

Welcome to the Model Railroader magazine discussion forums. We are glad you have found us. Your first few posts will be delayed by moderation, but this will ends soon enough, usually after just a few posts. Please stick around through the delays and become part of the crowd.

As mentioned above, please let us know if you are using DCC control or "conventional" DC power packs for your layout.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2014
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Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, August 9, 2021 1:11 PM

Hello All,

DC or DCC?

This makes a huge difference.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
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Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, August 9, 2021 11:02 AM

Welcome

Your first few post are delayed by Moderators.  Hang in there, I’m giving your post a bump for others to view it.


Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    August 2021
  • 2 posts
wiring double main for a reverse loop
Posted by J1984Bson on Sunday, August 8, 2021 12:09 PM

i would like to know how and what is need to wire my track for a double main line for a reverse loop 

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