I am building an N scale layout approximately 6 feet by 4 feet L shaped that consists of two separate loops. One loop is a long, bent oval around the perimeter. The second loop is an elongated figure 8 with a high line section. When I tried to connect the two loops it acts like a reverse loop. I am using MRC DCC control. What puzzles me is that if you go from the main oval to the figure 8 you aren't really changing the direction of the train. But there is a definite short so...question is how to I determine what is the actual reverse loop to be isolated? Does it mean the entire figure 8 becomes the reverse loop? I have several industries that run off the figure 8. Head scratcher for sure but must be missing something obvious. Thanks for any suggestions. Stuart
When you go from the outer oval to which end of the figure 8, you're not reversing the direction of the train? One end or the other of your figure 8 has the outside rail inside and the inside rail outside. I guarantee it. It's the nature of the beast.
Your diagram doesn't show the cross over, Acptulsa is correct. In a figure 8, the two loops are, by definition, flipped. Draw a red line along the "inside" of one part of the eight - after the crossing, it is now on the outside. You've managed to put your crossing where the "inside/outside" polarity of the rails is reversed. Just reverse the polarity of either your oval or your Fig8. Unless you have two crossovers between the oval and Fig8, you do not have any reversing sections, per the drawing
Looking at your drawing I don't see any track connection between the figure 8 and the outer oval. If you do have a track connecting the two, then the reverse loop may be caused because the DCC is connected in a reversed polarity from one loop to the other. Try reversing the connection on one loop and see what happens. If you end up needing to deal with a reverse loop I recommend using the DCC Specialties PSX-AR on one of the loops. I have three reverse loops on my layout and each have one of these and they work great. Here is a link to a post I made on my blog about working with reverse loops. http://palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/2015/05/experimenting-with-reverse-loops.html
Thanks. I just drew what I have now to show the two separate loops. I didn't put in any crossings. I will have to look at it more closely to see where the track changes polarity.
I appreciate the help. I added a crossing and circled it on drawing. I think I should be OK? Polarity should be same slipping from one track to next. Fingers crossed no pun intended.
Stuart - you shouldn't have any problems, as long as the inner and outer loop wirings are the same rail polarity there on the right.
If you do have a problem, reverse the wires feeding one or the other and you won't have the problem any more. But if you decide you want to cross over from the figure 8 to the outer loop at both ends, then you will have a problem.
