Hello everyone!
I would appreciate some advice on an issue I have with my new DCC layout and a reversing section.
My layout is built using Kato Unitrack in N scale loosely based on a Noch St. Barbara track plan.
I have a double track loop at the bottom of the layout, with the inside loop converting into a wye in the middle at the back and continuing as a single track cross the loop to the front of the layout and continuing along the front edge rising and converting into a loop.
I have use a Kato 20-222 Y-turnout in the middle and the single track ends as a right hand turnout at the top. This section is isolated from the two loops and connected using a Digitrax AR1 as an auto-reverser.
I use a Digitrax DCS51 Xtra Command Station which shuts down when a loco enters the Y-turnout from the left hand side of the wye.
Would anyone have any advice on what might be going wrong?
Hi KajustheCat!
Welcome to the forums!!
Based on your explanation, I believe that the inside track to the left of the wye has the opposite polarity of the inside track to the right of the wye. It looks to me like you have created a reversing section in the wye.
If you could post a track diagram that would make it easier to diagnose your problem.
Dave
Edit:
Actually, you can find out if you have created a short very simply. Get yourself a sheet of paper and a black marker and a red marker. Starting on the left side, draw the track plan for the inner loop using the red marker for the right rail and the black marker for the left rail. I predict that at some point the red rail will run directly into the black rail. That means you have a short. You will have to install some sort of system to reverse the polarity of the track as the train exits the wye. The PSX-AR auto reverser is a good product:
http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/pdf/man_psxar.pdf
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I have now managed to get my reversing section working on my layout. Previously I tried using a Digitrax AR1 to reverse the middle section, connecting the bottom and the top loop. After numerous attempts and modifications, not to mention frustrations, I eventually decided to purchase a DCC Specialties PSX-AR instead to run the middle section. So far it has run my layout without fault. so... as an engine runs around in the outer loop at the bottom (black) loop and crosses into the middle at the back section, the orange (middle) section swaps polarity if a short occurs. The engine happily runs along the orange section into the top loop (blue) section, runs around and as the engine passes back over into the orange section again, the polarity is swapped in case of a mismatch. I can now run the engine back to through the right hand turn into the inner loop (black) at the bottom, come back around into the middle section from the left and it all works again. The second time around I can run the engine to the left at the Y-turnout, through the point and back into the outer loop (black) at the bottom to run the engine counterclockwise as from the start. My test engine is a Kato SD40-2 Snoot loco. I have run into a short testing a Kato SD90/43MAC when running the engine through the orange section turning left at the Y-turnout and crossing into the outer loop. I wonder if this short possibly occurs due to the (screw) settings in my Double Track Single Crossover (Right) 20-231?
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