Hoping someone can clear this up for me: I have a crossover with lines A and B crossing. Can I leave line A as a continuous track through the crossover and have line B isolated to either side of the crossover? If so, I believe I need a reversing module on just one side of the crossover but I am not 100% sure. Any clarity on how this is wired? thanks in advance.
captwilb
captwilbI have a crossover with lines A and B crossing. Can I leave line A as a continuous track through the crossover and have line B isolated to either side of the crossover?
Doesn't sound like you have a "crossover", sounds like you have a "crossing". Two completely different thing that are wired completely differently.
A crossover is where you have two parallel tracks with a switchin each track connecting to two tracks allowing a train to move from track 1 to track 2.
A crossing is where two different tracks cross each other at an angle. In the crossing itself there is no way to change tracks.
If its a crossover you will need insulating joints on both rails of the connecting track.
If its a commercial crossing, especially an Atlas or Walthers product, you shouldn't need any gaps, the routes are electrically insulated from each other. If its a handlaid crossing or one where the routes are not isolated from each other then you will need to put gaps in the rails and gaurdrails to divide the crossing into quarters. and they will need some sort of switch or switching mechanism to control the polarity of the quarters depending on the polarity of the lines feeding into the crossing.
Quick test. Remove the crossing from the layout or isolate it from the rest of the track. Connect power to one route only. Check the other route with a voltmeter or 12 v grain of wheat bulb. If there is no voltage between the two rails of the other route or between opposite sides of the other route (or the bulb doesn't light) then the routes are isolated and no gaps are necessary.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Ahhh, yes, it's an Atlas crossing not a crossover. So it would seem then to be pretty easy. thanks.