My (very) simplified n-scale track plan is basically this: Two reversing loops, connected by a 144" track (red dots show where the track is connected by insulating joiners). Right now, I currently own a single Digitrax AR-1 auto-reversing unit. Is there a way to only use the single AR1 unit to deal with the two reversing loops, or should I be purchasing another unit? I fully understand how to hook up the unit if I had the one reversing loop, but am a bit stumped with the two loops. Note that I'm not looking to save money, if the best solution is to use two units, I'll do that! This is all hooked up to an NCE powercab, and I also use an NCE CP6 circuit protector between the powercab and the track. At the moment, only the 177" loop is built (as can be seen in my build thread in the Layout Design Discussion section) This is the full track plan as I'm building it...
Well, I have a vague idea how those things work, but I've never hooked one up. As I understand it, it detects the change in current as the train comes off the loop and either reverses polarity or reverses the direction the train is being ordered to go. I assume it reverses polarity to avoid the system being shorted through the locomotive. If it's hooked up to the single track, I believe it will work for both loops equally well. When it detects the short, it will reverse polarity to the tangent. It shouldn't know or care which loop the train is exiting. Hopefully someone who knows more about these things will chime in, but I'd not wire side tracks parallel to the main line--like the yard--through the reverser. Otherwise the yard engine would be getting its power reversed under it constantly as the train circled.
As long as you do not have trains crossing both ends at the same time, reversing the straight track is just fine.
Yes, you can connect the output of your PSX-AR to both return loops while connecting the middle part to a regular PSX-1. Everything is fine as long as you don't bridge between the middle and both loops at the same time. I did a series of experiments a few years ago and documented this on my blog. http://palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/2015/05/experimenting-with-reverse-loops.html
Well, nscalestation, you convinced me, next time I pass by the hobby shop I will pick up a second ar1 unit!
I should have mentioned his blog convinced me. While it's do-able with one, allowing one train to leave the center section while another is entering at the other end requires two units to prevent problems. Edit: This is the part from the blog that convinced me... "So next a second PSX-AR was added as shown in this drawing. Same test done with two engines running independently. This time no hesitation when both were crossing the gaps at the same time."
I just bought my first AR1 and tried it out with a very basic loop, one half of the schematic shown in your diagram. Try as hard as I might, the locomotive stalls & shorts at the insulated joint. I reversed the wiring but that just shifted the short to he other insulated joint. Once I push the locomotive further ahead, it goes on it's way. Adjusted the sensitivity, tried all that I could think of but cannot get it to work. Any suggestions, please?
Why not double track the 144" bottleneck to create a dogbone variant that avoids reverse loop complications altogether?
Oh my, i forgot about this thread! Sorry Esk, I can't help you much with the ar1, mine are still sitting in their packages! Today was the first day since last spring where i finally got back to work on my layout. Summer activities and purchase of a 3d printer sorta derailed any progress on the layout. As for the double line to bypass having a single 144" section, well too late for that, some sections of track are already down. I'll have it working with the two ar1s eventually.
I too have been busy with travel etc and have got back on track after an hiatus. Anyway, I had to return the AR1's. They are old technology with electro-mechanical relay and would not work with SPROG (my PC based command system), too slow for it. My system would trip before the AR1 could handle the reversal. So got a DCC Specialty quad FROG-AR. It is all solid state electronics which can be configured as 2 auto-reversers and those work beautifully well! Oh, I see a 3D printer purchase! I have been fascinated by those but didn't know of what use they can be & which ones to look for. Would you be creating railroad stuff on it....... which one have do you have?
I have an Anycubic Photon. I just use it for just about anything I can, both HO and N scale. This is a HO scale water tower I designed and made for a friend's layout. Don't mind the painting, I'm new at this! HO scale cattle car and cattle I'm working on, this was the first draft. N scale gondola and cover. Also a first draft. It's since been painted and decaled, but i don't have pictures of that yet. So yeah, learning CAD, printing, painting etc.. 3d printing is basically a hobby itself!
WOW! That's neat. All that was made on your 3d printer?! Do they have specific CAD files for Kato bridges, piers, viaducts and the like? Or can existing items be "scanned" & reproduced? I am sure rolling stock can't be made because of the moving parts..... Very fascinating!
