G’Day friends. I have a question to ask. I have the normal mainline on my HO layout, and from two sides of the mainline, tracks comes off and joins a single track to my goods yard/loco sheds. Would anyone have a wiring diagram of how to wire up this wye for DC and DCC. Many thanks. Col.
Wiring in wyes isn't that difficult. May I suggest you wire in two DPDT's one for the main and one for the leg of the wye you want to reverse. This way you can keep running and simply reverse the main to set the polarity up to recieve the train moving through the reversing section. No stopping and can easily be configured over to DCC. Clear as mud? This resource will get you started but they only show one reversing DPDT. http://modeltrains.about.com/od/track/ss/Reverse-Loops_2.htm To confuse you even more here is an answer to a question I possed with regard to Analog DC and DCC reversing loops or wyes. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?113725-Reversing-Loops-and-Wyes This perhaps, is the best resource and it shows precisely what I was talking about. I've wired in my model railroad as shown. http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ex_plus.html I hope this helps.
I've never done this for DCC. It has been years since my last one for DC. A few strategically placed insulated rail joiners and as noted above, a couple of DPDT switches. Cannot think of any additional sites on-line which depict what you need, but I am sure such can be found.
For DCC-only, this is easy. Put an auto reverse control (AR1 or PSX-AR) on your yard leg, with the isolating gaps between the switch on the yard and the other two switches. You need two sets of gaps. For DC or combo, use the DPDT solution Rick suggests above.
There are other resources...see: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...ing+In+Reversing+Wyes&fr2=sb-top&fr=ush-mailn I do not, don't, will not recommend you using the slider switches by as sold by the "A" guys and gals. Stick with the DPDT's and the instructions given by the NMRA resource. Best advice out there.
If you're interrested I may send you a private message giving you a copyrighted schematic from MR (that's why I can't put it right here), showing wiring for DC. Very easy indeed: with power-routing turnouts you don't even need to gap the turnout at the base of the Y. Please met me know. Dom
The easiest way wold be to double gap both tracks leading to the yard Y turnout. A DPDT set of contacts ganged to the turnout connects the entire yard to the selected approach track. As DCC is not polarity sensitive (except at gaps of opposite polarity) operatiopns in the yard is not affected when there are polarity reversals. See Diagram "F"at http://www.wiringfordcc.com/track_2.htm#rev_loop
Agree to the double gap, but be reeeeaaaaaaalllllllly sure that all of your metal wheelsets on your consist are not straddling the other gaps when the engine metal tires cross the gap immediately in front of it. If you can't assure yourself reasonably of that criterion, then get a reverser, or cut two sets of gaps at each end that are themselves just more widely separated than your largest truck containing metal tires. That is the advice given at DCC Specialties where they talk about the way to install and manage a PSX series circuit breaker/reverser. Really, though, and ideally, your length of track in the reversing section, say a loop, should never contain a train longer than the distance between the two sets of gaps at each end. That way, either a DPDT or a digital reverser works pretty much trouble-free. In the former case, 'driver error', just as with turnout points lined the wrong way, is likely to be the cause of problems.
With a Y as described, it would be impossible to bridge both sets of gaps, as you could be on only one leg of the turnout, not both (unless of course you have already derailed). The entire yard's polarity is determined by the Y turnout setting.
