Assuming Robert's diagrams are correct, I agree with his third approach. The main loop and staging tracks should be fed with "normal" (i.e., not reversable) DCC from a booster or power manager (or possibly a second booster covering staging if you keep a lot of locos there). The "staging branch" trackage between the staging area (including the throat/ladder) and the wye (including the wye turnout) would then be fed via an auto reverse module off of the main booster. A train running around the main loop would never cross a boundary, but one entering the staging branch (via the wye) would encounter an out of phase condition on one of the two wye legs. The AR unit would resolve this. Same at the staging end. The second scheme would not work, as the reversing section within the wye is too short, and with the metal wheels on your CZ, you need a reversing section to be longer than that 11 car beauty! Speaking of shorts, the heating you experience is the direct result of the short in your wiring and the fact that there is enough resistance in the rails to limit current to below the trip point of the booster. The high current through the resistance is generating heat (probably better than light (i.e., glowing rails!)). Your train room may be cold this winter, but I don't think that's the best approach to toasting your tootsies! Fix you wiring and all will be cool! Doug Stuard NVNTRAK
Hemi: What CSX Robert and dstuard indicate about the reversing section at Plain being too short for your CZ is exactly right. I have a short reversing section on my layout, but use MT plastic wheels in trucks with couplers on all my rolling stock and never run DPUs with locos as helpers in the middle or end of my trains, so the shortness has never been an issue. Sorry, I should have caught that Cal Zephyr issue.:embarassed: I think Robert's 3rd alternative (making the lower part of the helix a reversing section) is a good one. If you already have a command station and a booster, you could wire your loop (Plain to Crescent to Plain) and the staging ladder as one block with the Command Station and the reversing block of the lower helix with your booster. The downside is that the vast majority of your locos will be in the electrical block powered by the command station. The PM 42 will probably be a better arrangement. Let the main loop be one block, the reversing section in the lower helix your second block, and then split half of the staging ladder (Tracks 1, 2, and 3) as the third, and the other half of the staging ladder tracks (Trks 4 and 5) plus the track looping back as the 4th power district. If you have 2 trains on the loop, 4 (6??) in one of the staging blocks and 4 (6??) in the other, you will have a fairly balanced distribution of power demand. Robert and Doug: Any suggestions or cautions about using the PM42 in this manner?
There are two issues here...dividing the layout into power districts to avoid shutdown of the whole thing when you run a turnout, and controlling the reversing section. The PM42 is a good quad power manager (there are others), but a PM42 section optioned as a reverser provides no short circuit protection itself and must be in series with an actual breaker. It used to be that another section of the PM42 could be used, but Digitrax no longer recommends this. As the reversing section (the lower helix) is unlikely to have many trains in it at one time, I might be inclined to employ a separate reverser. So here's one way of doing it: 1) Divide the main line loop into two subdistricts, each fed from a section of a PM42. 2) Similarly split your staging tracks and loop into two sub-districts off of the other sections of the PM42. 3) Use a separate reverser (such as an AR1) fed from one of the PM42 sections to power the lower helix reversing section, including the wye turnout and the staging yard throat. I haven't looked at the design of the throat, but you may want to pay extra attention as to which turnouts are part of the staging districts and which are part of the helix district to minimize the possibility of multiple trains crossing the boundaries and confusing the heck out of your railroad. Doug
Hmm... I wish I would have seen this about 45 min ago, when I plced my order for all the above, except the AR1... We'll see how it works...
Hemi With all the responses you received are you now alright with what you need to do as far as the wiring?
Hemi: That's what I told you to do last night. Straighten out your wiring before you make any other hardware purchases.:lightbulb: Now work your way back up, section by section. Stay cool and run steam......
I think so. I have the components I need on order at Tony's, and I have most of the week to wait for them before doing anything else. I think tonight might be an F40 night! I think I'll take a break for now, and do some painting for a customer... When the F40's are done, then I'll jump on it.
Hemi You have made great progress and have enjoyed watching your layout take shape, keep your chin up. I start my benchwork this week and I am looking forward to having the sawdust start flying and the trains running.
hemi, I may be telling you something you already know... but here goes. I use a Digitrax Radio Chief (dcs-100) and for big n-trak shows i have a db-150. for whatever reason, the track power leads must be the opposite connection on the booster as the lead to the dcs (or to the quad 54) in t-trak we use kato blue/white wiring, and for simplicity we wire "Blue to the Back" on all feeders. I attach blue to the left track output on the dcs (white to the right). I reverse and attach blue to the right when I connect the booster. this doesn't explain anything but I hope you don't have problems crossing from the dcs district into the booster district. not sure if this is even part of your situation! to qoute apollo 13.... "lets work the problem" stay focused on your systematic approach that PSG has outlined. you'll lick this, I'm sure!!!
