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DC wye wiring

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 3:29 PM

stevetx

Sheldon, I would like to see you post the diagram you discussed with push buttons and relays to control polarity for a reverse "Y". Could you include the part number or whatever for the relays. I am all D.C. and wanted to do one of these relay systems a few years ago but I just couldn't find the circuit and what relays. Thanks

 

I will be happy to. Just give me a few days to dig it out, get it scaned, etc.

We are getting ready to move, and life is busy.

But I will get it posted for you.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
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Posted by stevetx on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 2:23 PM

Sheldon, I would like to see you post the diagram you discussed with push buttons and relays to control polarity for a reverse "Y". Could you include the part number or whatever for the relays. I am all D.C. and wanted to do one of these relay systems a few years ago but I just couldn't find the circuit and what relays. Thanks

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, July 19, 2018 7:16 AM

In addition to the diagram shown above with the DPDT switch, a wye with at least one dead end can be made fully automatic with a few relays connected to the turnout positions. 

You simply need to understand the DC wiring principal of EAST-WEST, and the reversing section can be controlled by the route chosen.

I will post a diagram later when I have access to my desktop.

It can be wired so that a single pushbutton for each of the three routes will throw the necessary turnouts and set the polarity correctly.

The magic of hard wired logic.......

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
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  • From: lavale, md
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Posted by gregc on Thursday, July 19, 2018 6:32 AM

BigDaddy
I will say, on behalf of the OP, that the above diagram does not help me understand how to use an Atlas controller in this application, which is a black box to me.  Yes, I looked at the pdf mentioned above and I don't speak electrical diagrams. 

BNSF UP and others modeler
He wants to know how to wire a wye in DC. He is working in N scale. He can't find anything helpful, and I cant really either.

i provided some information.   I didn't think the OP was asking about Atlas and I don't know what level of understanding the OP has

i assume the OP is capable of asking, and will ask questions.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 8:30 PM

 The new Atlas plans are just that, track plans, even though a lot of them come froom the old Atlas books. The OLD Atlas books, by Armstrong and Stepek (yes, THAT Armstrong) used to show all the wiring with Atlas components. Including layouts with reverse loops and wyes.

 Of course, thoose books also all showed common rail wiring - which STINKS. But the Atlas components are all designed for common rail wiring. Back in those days, even going back to when I was just a wee lad, we NEVER wired the layouts for common rail. It just isn't how my Dad did it, and I just carried on with my own layouts. I always gapped BOTH rails, and ran two wires fromt he block toggle to the section. Not a common rail in sight. Skip the common rail, wire it like Greg showed, DPDT toggle switches are not expensive.

                                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 6:34 PM

gregc
BNSF UP and others modeler

 

Since I was snarky in my initial response, I will say, on behalf of the OP, that the above diagram does not help me understand how to use an Atlas controller in this application, which is a black box to me.  Yes, I looked at the pdf mentioned above and I don't speak electrical diagrams. 

35 yrs ago I used dpdt switches for my reversing loop, not an Atlas controller. If you call what they call the "isolated section" in your pic the mainline and everything past the gaps, the reversing loop it looks like every other diagram of a reversing loop if you ignore there are turnouts instead of a continuous loop.

The "automatic reversers" used in DCC cannot be used in DC.  But 2 DPDT switches cost no more than a draft craft beer.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
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  • From: lavale, md
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Posted by gregc on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 5:12 PM

BNSF UP and others modeler
He wants to know how to wire a wye in DC.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    January 2010
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Posted by peahrens on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 9:27 AM

Atlas Controller shown below with reverse loop (upper diagram).  Ignore the Selector modules on the right that control blocks off to the right.  And you can ignore Cab B, as it is not required to have 2 cabs (to operate two trains) for a single train with mainline & reverse loop. 

The X-Y direction switch (that reverses the loop ploarity) and the Cab A direction switch are used when needed to ensure (1) that the loop polarity matches  mainline polarity when & where (depending on turnout poition) a train enters the loop and (2) that the mainline (Cab A) polarity is matched as needed to the loop polarity when the train then exits the loop.  I forget exactly how used as I am a DCC guy lately.  

http://download.atlasrr.com/pdf/Item220Instructions.pdf

Unfortunately that does not show the wye approach on track isolation & connection specifically but it indicates where an isolated (reversing part) of the wye is connected to the controller X-Y direction switch output.  Basically the wye must be separated into a mainline section and an isolated "reversing" section.  I noted elsewhere that the isolation can be one rail in some cases but needs to be both rails in others, depending on the turnout type.  

There are various wye diagrams around but I did not find everything you need to know in one place using the Atlas Controller.  I would suggest using Atlas devices and getting this book which surely explains it all.

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-8-complete-atlas-wiring-book.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=atlas+wiring+book

 

 

 

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 7:26 AM

color me skeptical.  It's just a reversing loop and Atlas controllers have been around a while.

A good book might be an good investment.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Atlas-Wiring-Book-Scales/dp/B0006KSLE6

A less expensive book: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EASY-MODEL-RAILROAD-WIRING-1990-PRACTICAL-FLEXIBLE-WIRING-FOR-ANY-LAYOUT/283027440197?hash=item41e5c00245%3Ag%3AIXYAAOSwhHJbCmDl&_nkw=easy+model+railroading&rt=nc

and if you don't want to wait for the post office

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=wiring+DC+Wye

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
DC wye wiring
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 12:14 AM

So, I have a question from a friend. He wants to know how to wire a wye in DC. He is working in N scale. He can't find anything helpful, and I cant really either. Any help would be greatly appreciated. He has one atlas controller to work with.

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

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