I have a small staging yard on a shelf made up with Kato N-scale Unitrack. I am about to join this to the main layout and would like to use my leftover Kato #6 switches in a Wye configuration. I don't have to use Kato track and switches, I just would like to use the leftovers. As I use DCC, I was hoping to automate this form of a reverse loop using the PSX-AR from DCC Specialties. We have a couple of these on our Club layout and I really like their performance. My problem is that the information on the PSX-AR suggests that they can't be used with Kato switches. Does anyone know how one would set this up so that they could or do they have any recommendations for a similar product which would be compatible with Kato switches? Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Rob Hampton, N.B. Canada
You could still use the PSX-AR if you are willing to not use the turnout control and just do it manually. Kato's turnouts are single coil format, one needs to be able to reverse the polarity of the applied voltage with some significant current to its coil to change the point position. The loop/wye reversing function will work as intended, but it can't reverse the polarity for the coil. Lyle
The PSX ARs will work just fine, for the reversing. What you are seeing is that they cannot themselves operate a Kato switch (but they can send a signal to (for example) a DS-64 to close/throw a Kato switch). For the wye, I doubt you would want/need the automated switch throw, since you would still have to throw one of the other two switches to enter the wye to begin with, and, when exiting your yard, you would want to control which route you are taking.
Thanks for the info Lyle and Rick. I think you have a point Rick. Using the PSX-AR for reversing and just controlling the switches with either a DS-64 or the DS51K1 would be the solution. I also checked out Allan Gartner's Wiring for DCC page and it helped to make me realize that the problem wasn't as big as I made it. It would appear that whoever is operating the yard will have to throw one of the two switches on the mainline in order to enter or exit the yard. In order to do this they will have to have permission. It just may make operations interesting. Thanks again, Rob
Rob, The best way to wire this is to have the reversing section be the entire yard, the lead switch into it, and a bit (say one extra section of track) up each leg from the switch
That was what I thought too Rick once I read Allan Gartner's web page. It seems like the easiest way to do things. Thanks again, Rob
