Reversal Loop Madness

[Anonymous]

[:D]Hi my fellow modelrailroaders, I have a question[?] I put in a reversal loop with a siding and a crossover, the problem is this,even though the loop is insulated my loco's still short out over the switches. I am useing Atlas insulated frog switches with an Atlas twin switch. How do I fix the short within the reversal loop?

Thanks
TrainsRMe

[Jetrock]

Did you install a switch to reverse the power in the reverse loop? If the polarity is wrong, you will still get a short when trains enter the reverse loop.

[Anonymous]

Yes, i did I'am wondering if I have bad switches or is there something else that I just don't see?

[Anonymous]

Yes, i did I'am wondering if I have bad switches or is there something else that I just don't see?
thanks,
TrainsRMe

[rrinker]

Do you have BOTH rails gapped, on BOTH tracks on the loop side of the switch that connects the ends of the loop?

--Randy

[Jetrock]

I'm wondering where this "siding and a crossover" fit into the picture--how does it all go together?

Do you actually get a short circuit (overload light goes on) or does the engine just stop when it hits the switch? If it's an insulated frog, and the insulated rail joiners are at the end of the switch it might be that the bit of track past the frog is not receiving power (it's insulated at both ends.)

[Anonymous]

You really ought to get a book on layout wiring. How to Wire Your Model RR by Linn Wescott was the best for DC 2 rail ever written. GO FIND ONE, LHS or eBay, but pleeeeeze do yourself a favor and get a copy.
Jennifer

[Anonymous]

I should be more helpful, the entire loop must be isolated and have its OWN reversing switch, seperate from the rest of the layout, and supplied by DC before the other reversing switch. Once the train enters the isolated loop, and is moving along, then you reverse the direction of the OTHER switch feeding the rest of the layout...That way, when the engine is leaving the islated loop, the 'direction' of the rest of the layout is reversed and will accept the locomotive as it enters. All is clearly illustrated in the book I mentioned above.
Jennifer

[tomytuna]

We run DCC on by layout..and have installed 2 reversing loops....You MUST isolate the section of track that engine running through..and install an " electrical DPDT " switch to have proper elec current running through that section....as explained above....good luck..Tom