wire a loop

[anthonykaz]

aaaahahahahhahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

can sombody show a GOOD diagram of how to wire a loop correctly?

is there any special circut boards i need to buy?

running HO with DC

Thanks

AK

i know about plastic rail jointers

[Rotorranch]

A reverse loop, or just an oval of track?

Rotor

[Don Gibson]

MOST 'Ready Track & 'Sectional' track have 'Terminal Track' sections.

FLEXTRACK per se requires soldering.

LARGE Layouts do better with Bus wire & feeders.

KALMBACH Publishing has a book out 'How To Wire Your Railroad'. Avail. on line or LHS's.

i know about plastic rail jointers

Best to use metal new ones as they conduct electricity best.

[dknelson]

The Andy Sperandeo "easy" wiring book has exactly what you need.   

Atlas still publishes a wiring book -- have not seen the latest edition but the 1958 version () is pretty clear.  If you use Atlas components wiring a loop is simple, but the Controller to do it takes some getting used to.

Dave Nelson 

 

 

[gmcrail]

aaaahahahahhahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

can sombody show a GOOD diagram of how to wire a loop correctly?

is there any special circut boards i need to buy?

running HO with DC

Thanks

AK

i know about plastic rail jointers

 

Anthony, I'm going to assume that you know how to wire a simple oval, since you know enough to specify DC.  For a reverse loop, that is, a loop of track that doubles back on itself, reversing the direction of travel, the wiring is so simple that it almost doesn't need a diagram (which is good, since I don't have one handy at the moment). 

First, you will not be able to use the reversing switch on a normal power pack.  You will need two DPDT (double-pole doublethrow) toggle switches, and some wire.  First, wire both toggle switches as reversing switches:  make an "X" with insulated wire between the terminals on the four corners of each toggle. 

Connect the output from the power pack to the two teminals at one end of the X, on BOTH toggles. 

Connect the output from the center terminals of one toggle to the mainline. 

Connect the output from the center terminals of the other toggle to the rails of the reverse loop. 

Use insulated rail joiners to isolate the rails of the loop (this is easiest to do where the loop tracks connect to the track turnout).  You will need 4 plastic joiners.

You have now wired the reverse loop.  

To operate, you will need to throw the toggle for the loop, before the train enters the loop, so as to make the loop rails the same polarity as the approach track.  Hint: if your train stops dead at the loop track, you've got the polarity wrong - throw the loop toggle in the other direction.   

Next, while the train is in the loop, throw the mainline toggle to the reverse direction, so that it will be the proper polarity when the train exits the loop.  Oh, yeah, don't forget to throw the turnout.

 

[TrainsRMe1]

I have done it the Atlas way, and It's worked for me very well, just follow the instructions.And keep your wiring simple That's where I went wrong.

     Take care and good luck