Reverse Loop wiring

[HaroldA]

PennCentral99

Yes, everything within the reverse loop needs to be isolated from the layout. You need to run the feeders from the main line to the AR-1, then from the AR-1 to the reversing section. Once you add siding and other track, you may need to isolate them from the reversing section (especially if you have locos on them), otherwise the locos will be changing direction (polarity) everytime a loco enters the reversing section.

Here is a link to the instructions (which I think are pretty clear):

http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/autoreversing/ar1/documents/AR1.pdf

Thanks - going back to my original question - sidings and other track need to be isolated from the loop and powered from the bus coming from the booster and not the AR1. If I understand what you are saying, sidings powered from the AR1 will cause locos to changed direction - not a good thing. Makes sense.

[farrellaa]

I have a reverse loop on my layout and use the AR-1 as well. I also have 3 sidings in the reverse loop section and they are not isolated as I run DCC so it doesn't matter how the polarity is on the track; each loco responds to the direction on the throttle, not the track.

  -Bob

[PennCentral99]

Yes, everything within the reverse loop needs to be isolated from the layout. You need to run the feeders from the main line to the AR-1, then from the AR-1 to the reversing section. Once you add siding and other track, you may need to isolate them from the reversing section (especially if you have locos on them), otherwise the locos will be changing direction (polarity) everytime a loco enters the reversing section.

Here is a link to the instructions (which I think are pretty clear):

http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/autoreversing/ar1/documents/AR1.pdf

[HaroldA]

I am adding a reverse loop to my RR which will eventually contain turnouts, sidings and other trackage within the loop. I am using a Digitrax AR1 to handle the polarity change. My logic is telling me that everything within the loop needs to be separate from the rest of the layout so my plan is to run a track bus from the AR1 to the loop then add feeders as needed to power everything in this section. Am I on, pardon the pun, the right track? The instructions are a little ambiguous.