Below is a schematic view of part of my layout, reduced to its most simplistic form. Which of the tracks are reversing: A, B, C.. ? Power will be DCC.
lol Is this a quiz? A reverse track changes loco direction what I see is two endless loops. I'm doing DC perhaps misunderstand . .
No quiz , I need to know where track polarity needs to be reversed for an incoming loco. EDIT: two separate loops connected with two change-over turnouts and one turnback (C).
Sorry . . you did say "simple" I would DOUBLE-INSULATE all three, wherever the inner and outer-loops meet? However should say that, while running a DCC capable loco in DC mode, I did notice that even if I physically flip it in the opposite direction (ie: in effect reversing track polarity), it still travels the same way?
If you start on the other loop going clockwise and enter the inner loop at A and exit at C you will have reversed. Same if you started on the inner loop going clockwise and exited at C to the other loop and went back into the inner loop at B you would have reversed. The way it is once you reverse with either of those the only way to un-reverse is to back out of where you ended up to get going in the other direction again. Sumner
Hi Sumner, so if I understand correctly, the "C" is a reversing loop.. And hence this section needs to be isolated at either side in order for an autoreverser to reverse polarity once a loco enters that "C" - part? Say C-polarity is alligned with the outer section, and a loco is about to enter from the inner circle, then the "C"-part needs its polarity to be reversed BEFORE a loco enters from the inner circle. And once fully inside "C" then polarity needs to be reversed back to the outer circle's polarity. Correct? And the change-overs A and B will not cause short circuits, in other words, these A- and B- sections do not need to be isolated in order to reverse polarity.. On condition that the outer rail of the outer circle is connected to the outer rail of the inner circle... Correct?
Hi Michael Clyde, this is not just about isolation, but actually about reversing polarity on a reversing section of track.
I haven't spent a lot of time on it so don't hold me to it but yes I believe that is the only reversing section (if you wire it all the same way I'm doing looking at the situation). Are you OK with having to back the train up a long ways to reverse it back again or are you going to use a turntable or wye some place to do that? Sumner
I am not sure I understand you? Just to clarify: this is a vastly reduced simplification of my intended layout. Section C is actually 4 meters long.
That is good to have a reversing section that long but ..............................once the train reverses direction how do you plan to turn it back around so that it will be going around the loops in the direction it was going before it reversed direction? Sumner
Hi Sumner, in my actual layout there is a reversing loop into the outer circle; it was clear enough for me for that to be a reversing loop that I had not bothered including it in my schematic here. But thanks anyways for that very helpful remark! Erik
