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Reverse Loop Wiring Explained

This contribution from club member Harry who suggests:

“A reverse loop on your model railroad should be carefully done because faulty reverse loop can damage the locomotive and the entire wiring setup in worse cases. A reverse loop, as the name suggests, doubles back on itself so it’s important to give an electrical block for the reverse loop. You need to use an SPST switch to run power to the extended loop, which can be bought online. The DPDT switch will be used to control the power flow on the loop so that you can move your locomotive forward and backward when needed.”

Click the link to comment on this posting from Harry.

2 Responses to Reverse Loop Wiring Explained

  • Chris Manvell says:

    There is an alternative approach using diodes. You can see it on my website at trains.manvell.org.uk/misc/WiringDiagram-ReverseLoop.jpg . It can be used in either direction with the loco stopping after it has crossed the double rail break. Then simply reverse the controller and off it goes again. The process can be sort-of automated, linking it to a turnout.
    Good luck,
    Chris.

    • Chris Manvell says:

      Having just checked that the link worked, I noted that the image looked like two images. It isn’t; there are three double rail breaks. CM.

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