Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
bnsf0823 what is the best way to post a picture of my layout on this forum? I appreciate the help
what is the best way to post a picture of my layout on this forum? I appreciate the help
Rich explained it pretty well. I'll elaborate a bit more.
To post pictures:
1. Go to www.photobucket.com and create an account.
2. Upload a photo by clicking the button top center that says "upload" I circled it in green for you in the picture in the next post.
3. On the next screen select the picture file you created. Hit "Save an continue to album" when it's done uploading. (It will tell you when it's done)
4. This will take you back to your main screen. Rest your mouse over the image you are interested in. A box should show up with some options/text inside it. Click inside the "img code" It will look something like," [img|s42.photobucket.com/albums/g20/my_account/myimage.jpg|/img]"(I circled it in red for you) Type Ctrl+a then Ctrl+c. This will copy the text inside the box for you.
5. Inside your post, type Ctrl + V (this is Paste) The text should show up in your post edit box. When you hit [OK] to your post it will show up in the thread.
I know it sounds complex, but after you do it the first time it's simple. The upshot is a lot of online forums use the same [img] code. So once you know how to do it here, you can do it on a lot of forums.
There are several ways to create a graphic show your track layout.
1. Just take a pencil and draw it inside mspaint (the paint program built into windows.) Save it to your desktop. Use one color for track and another for your wiring to the track.
OR
2. Draw it on paper. Take a digital camera and photograph your drawing and transfer it to your computer
3. Use a track planning software like Atlas RTS (Free) or 3rd Planit. This is a lil more complex, but we can walk you through the steps if you want to learn. :-) We are here to help.
If you have 3rd PlanIt, maximize your screen and zoom so that you can see the entire layout. Of if it's a really large layout, you can make two pictures, one of each half. Under the File menu there is Export, under there is View to a File. This will allow you to save whatever appears in the drawing windows to a JPG file. That's all there is to it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Rich: I am going to ask for your help one more time. Could you take the time to explain how to actually create a JPG or GIF file from a program like 3rdPlanIt. I am a computer dinosaur (as I suspect are many others). Basic step by step instructions written with the assumption that we haven't got a clue about what we are doing would help very much.
Thanks AGAIN!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
bnsf0823,
You need to create a graphic file of your layout drawing (e.g., a JPG or a GIF file) and then upload it to a third party server like Photobucket. Once uploaded, you need to provide a link to that uploaded file in a post on this forum. When you post the link to the graphic file uploaded on Photobucket, the other members of the forum will be able to see your drawing.
If that sounds too complicated, email the graphic file of the drawing of your layout and we will post it for you.
Rich
Alton Junction
As I said before
Please supply drawing of your track layout. If you don't know how to do this, ask, and we can show you how.
Sorry to report the way you have it stated really does NOT help in explaining your wiring. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
My thoughts are still to simplify, get rid of the locomotives, and test the operation of the reverser.
Hesitation could well be to lack of feeders, which will also effect the operation of the reverser.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
I installed all the feeders on the bottom part of the layout and did the quarter test it came out perfect. Then i did the quarter test on the upper level which is the whole loop and the zepher would show a short but not continue flashing the numbers like it did on the bottom. Does this mean i need more feeders or have dirty track or what? I can run an engine around the loop pretty flawless but it does seem to have a little hesitation here and there. Also the psx-ar is shorting everytime a wheel of an engine or car passes the insulated gap. any more thoughts?
Greetings,
It would be greatly helpful if you could post a picture/drawing of your reverse loop. If there are two reverse loops then post a picture of both loops with the track in between.
You also need to set the Autoreverser to a 2.5 amp limit. The better way to do this would be through setting CV49 = 2 on the PSX-AR. But if you can't or don't want to do this, you can apply jumpers across J6 pins 1 & 2 for a 1.27 amp setting.
-D
Reading into your post, it seems that you have one PSX-AR but two loops. Are you using the same reverser for both loops?
This should work, but with one important restriction. You can only cross one insulated joint at a time. If you've got a train entering or leaving both loops simultaneously, the PSX-AR can't resolve the issue and will short out.
These units support several amps, and should have plenty of power for 4-5 engines.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I would start by simplifying the test. Get all the locos off the layout, and use a screwdriver to short just one rail going into the loop. That's all it should take. Obviously only one end of the loop will be out of phase.
There are trip current settings that can be adjusted, but I expect it is ok out of the box. Mine throws with the original Prodigy, which is as low current as it gets.
Lack of feeders could be the problem.
Yes, it could be caused by the lack of feeders. Have you done the quarter test at all points on your layout?
An auto-reverser works sorta like the overload protection in a booster, except that when it senses a short it reverses the output polarity instead of shutting it off.
So the same way that the track resistance will prevent a booster from shutting down in the case of a short, it can also prevent the auto-reverser from properly flipping the polarity.
But all that said, I seem to recall hearing about the PSX-AR having a problem with lower-power boosters such as the Zephyr and the PowerCab. I believe there's a certain setting that needs to be used. After you do the quarter test and remedy any feeder issues, you may want to check into that as well.
Hey guys i just purchased the psx-ar picked it up from my local hobby shop and took it home. I have a reverse loop on both ends of my layout one up and one down. I installed the psx-ar just like it showed on the manual. For the time being i just want to use it as a autoreversing unit. I put a train on the tracks ran it through the loops both ways and it seemed to work fabulous. Then a little later ran it through and it started shorting out my track until both loco wheels fully entered the loop or exited whch ever. the bottom of my layout i have a buss line but no feeders yet would that effect the psx ar or what could be the problem i just cant figure out this reverse stuff. im all in dcc zepher 2.5amp system. the top loop is the whole upper layer with feeders about every 10-15 feet. what do i need to do to get this working properly? Do i need some other unit with it or more power. The most locos i have had on it when i was testing it was 4 or 5 one being with sound.help help help???/? Thanks