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Reverse Loop problem

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • 2 posts
Reverse Loop problem
Posted by VlnGuy on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 10:48 AM

I have a reverse loop going diagonally across an oval.  The loco will enter on one side but stops when it gets to the turnout on the other side. 

I am using NCE Power Cab, and a Digitrax AR1 auto reversing unit.  Peco electrofrog turnouts.  The turnouts are connected to a Tam Valley Hex Frog Juicer.

I installed them all according to the instructons, and have checked my wiring 3 times.

Please help!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 10:59 AM

 The main problem is probably the Frog Juicer and the AR-1 fighting one another. If the gpas for the reverse loop are right at the turnouts, when the train hits the exit gap, the frog juicer tries to swap the frog to match, while the AR-1 tries to swap the reverse section. The Frog Juicer is alwyas going to be faster thna the AR-1. The problem is, the Juicer setting the polarity to match is actually the wrong polarity for the turnout, so you have a short.

 You can try adjusting the trip point on the AR-1 with the potentiometer, but I suspect this will always be a problem. If you have switch machines to operate the turnouts, it may just be easier to use contacts to set the frog - since it's a no-brainer here which way it needs to go. Frog Juicers are great for complex arrangements where it's hard to figure out just what polarity each frog needs to be, but when it's a simple turnout, simple contacts work just as well.

                                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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