Comments on: Wiring Mistakes of New Model Railroaders

By: Newman Atkinson

Newman Atkinson — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:32:34 +0000

In reply to Shaun. The DPDT switch is a good way to change the polarity manually while you are in the reverse loop. Some people will do it with the track prior to the reverse loop. You will need to double insulate both ends of the loop rails. Now if you are working with DCC then insulate both rails at both ends as above and get an auto reversing circuit and mount it so it feeds the reverse loop and you won't even see the engine slow down where in DC you would probably stop your engine change the polarity to the track and then reverse the power to that track to continue on. But if you are working with DCC the reversing circuit is the best fix for your situation. They may have them for standard DC but I don't know for sure on that. Newman

By: Shaun

Shaun — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 00:08:47 +0000

In reply to Chris Manvell.

Thanks for your replies.
It is more of a half figure 8. That then runs along side the two parallel tracks (opposite direction) and then loops around to meet the other two tracks so that there is a point that the polarity is opposed. Maybe some form of dpdt switching might be the way to go.

Take care all – will let you know how it goes.
Cheers NZ Shaun

By: Chris Manvell

Chris Manvell — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:09:18 +0000

In reply to Chris Manvell. Sorry, should have added that Loop3 is a completely automated circuit diagram requiring a multi-pole locking relay.

By: Chris Manvell

Chris Manvell — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:00:33 +0000

I cannot visualise exactly what you have there but it sounds like you have a reverse loop, where a train’s direction of travel is reversed by going round a loop-back. There are a couple of ways round this. Have a look at the following three pages on my website. (Sorry about the German. I don’t have the English version handy.)
http://trains.manvell.org.uk/misc/ReverseLoop1.jpg
http://trains.manvell.org.uk/misc/ReverseLoop2.jpg
http://trains.manvell.org.uk/misc/ReverseLoop3.jpg
Loop2 just shows the wiring at positions 1, 3 and 3 in diagram 1.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 11:39:34 +0000

When wiring a layout, large or small, half the battle is solved by drawing a diagram first. Then doing a desktop walkthrough. Then you will know where to place power feeds, isolation points, un-couplers, signals and so on.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 00:20:45 +0000

Shaun, if you don’t get a response inside this post you could try using the link in the right hand column to submit your question. Using that link will get your question submitted to the blog moderator who might publish it on the home page as a separate posting where more people will see it. See how you go here first.

By: Shaun Pollard

Shaun Pollard — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 00:12:08 +0000

I’ve got a wee problem that you might be able to help me with.
Two parallel tracks,one loops back to form a 6, now we have polarity as (bottom to top) +-,+-,-+: how do I join the -+ end back to the rest of the track ,which is all +-, and still allow for single cab running?

Confused
Shaun
NZ