There is an article on this subject on the Tony's Train Exchange Tech Topics site that has me somewhat confused. I have three relatively long reverse loops (over 12 feet each). Should the buss wires be "twisted" with the reverse loopm wires?
RicZ
Not really. And unles there is more of the "main track" beyond the reverse section, there is no reason for the main bus to extend past the point where it connects to the autoreverser. All track in the reversing section must be fed from the autoreverser's output ONLY, and since it's about 12' long, multiple feeders should be used. Extend a bus wire along the reversing section and drop feeders to it. Like the track, this section of bus shoudl be isolated fromt he main track bus. The single point of connection between the main bus and this reverse loop bus would be throught he autoreverser. Don't forget the gaps/insulated joiners in the ends of the reverse loop track 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.
rrinker Like the track, this section of bus shoudl be isolated fromt he main track bus. The single point of connection between the main bus and this reverse loop bus would be throught he autoreverser. Don't forget the gaps/insulated joiners in the ends of the reverse loop track as well.
Like the track, this section of bus shoudl be isolated fromt he main track bus. The single point of connection between the main bus and this reverse loop bus would be throught he autoreverser. Don't forget the gaps/insulated joiners in the ends of the reverse loop track as well.
If the reversing section of track is completely isolated by gapping the rails at both ends of the reversing section, and all feeder wires to within the reversing section are fed through the output side of the auto reversing unit, why would you need to isolate separate sections of bus wires? As long as the feeder wires into the input side of the auto reversing unit come from the main bus wires, wouldn't that be sufficient?
Rich
Alton Junction
The bus for the reverse loop must be isolated fromt he bus for the main track. Is what I was saying.
Same as the track in the reverse loop must be isolated from the track on the main.
And with a long reversing section it's probably better to use a sub bus to feed it rather than run 12 foot long feeder wires.
rrinker And with a long reversing section it's probably better to use a sub bus to feed it rather than run 12 foot long feeder wires.
Yep, I realized that was your point after I wrote my reply.
OK. I have a situation like this with a shorter reversing section--for discussion, let's say three feet. If this section gets track power ONLY through the AR "output" side, should it work if the wiring is 1.) AR input from the main buss, to 2.) AR output to the reversing section with no other feeds to the reversing section?
Also, in trying to figure out my problem, I discovered that the AR is polarity sensitive, something I did not know previously and is not so indicated in the instructions on markings on the AR. The AR is an MRC AD520. Does this matter, and if so, why is it not discussed in the many, many posta on the subject of auto-reversers?
Mike
Yes, if the reverse section is like 3 feet, you can run a pair of wires fromt he output of the AR right to the rails.
The only thing that should matter ont he AR is not mixing up the input and output. Otherwise, polarity should not matter - because that's the whole point, ir reverses the polarity when it doesn't match. Either coming in or leaving the loop, the polarity (really it's phase with a square wave DCC signal) will be 'wrong' and the AR will correct it. That's what it does.