MisterBeasley wrote:>>> snip <<<Another reason, for DCC users, is "so I can program other engines on the main." When you do that, you don't want your whole fleet out there listening to the commands.
>>> snip <<<
Another reason, for DCC users, is "so I can program other engines on the main." When you do that, you don't want your whole fleet out there listening to the commands.
Huh? Why not?
Unless you have more than one engine with the same address, the others will just ignore programming commands. I do it all the time. Even (with an NCE PH pro) change an engine's address.
Yeah, I'll agree with Art. An SPST is sufficient for the job. Another thing to ask yourself is, "Why do you want to power off the siding?" I have my roundhouse/turntable tracks isolated, so I can power off the engines I'm not using. I've also got a couple of passing sidings isolated so I can park my passenger cars there and power off the interior lighting.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
to amplify Pondini's reply:
1. If you're usung DCC and DCC 'friendly' turnouts (such as Atlas) you do nothing - let the decoders do their thing.
2. If yoy're using DC with power routing tunouts, you install a DPDT toggle - center off - or an Atlas 'Block Control to power the siding, after you insulate rails at both ends.
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/Track/Trackphotos/210.gif
3. If you're using DCC with 'power routing turnouts' (such as Shinohara and BK) gap the insde 'frog' rails - reason is frog changes polarity.
Hi, Alex and to the forums!
As with so many things in model railroading (and life in general), the answer to your question is, "That depends".
Some turnouts (track switches) automatically route power to only one track -- the one the turnout is set for. Thus a siding will be off automatically when you switch the turnout back to the main.
Others don't, so you'll have to install an electrical switch to either turn on or cut off one (or both) wires going to the siding track. You may also have to insulate one of the siding's rails from the turnout.
How do I cut the power to my siding?
Newbie