I have a Double Reverse Loop using 1 double crossover and 2 #6 turnouts. I isolated both loops and connected them to their own power supply. I don’t have a reverse switch available to use so I figured I could get it working using another controller and using the direction switch to reverse, but once I switched the turnouts to the loops I have a dead spot at each end of the crossover. I tried removing the insulators but that only cause the controller to short out. I just don’t get it. I wired this exactly the same way as my Atlas Code 80 reverse loops, with the exception of the reverse switches. What is so different from Atlas #6 remote turnouts and the Unitrack #6 turnouts?
You have two reverse loops. Its not the # 6 turnouts. You a reverse loop on either side of the double crossover. Just follow the path of a train through the double crossover. It reverses direction on either side.
I know that I have two reverse loops. What I need to know is how power gets through the crossover, because if I use the Insulated UniJoiner to isolate the loops than I have a dead spot at the crossover and the loco stalls. If I remove the Insulated UniJoiner and replace the regular UniJoiner than I get a short.
I think I have it figured out. I need to put back the Insulated UniJoiners and add a Kato 24-818 Terminal UniJoiner to each end of the double crossover. I also need to use a DPDT switch to reverse instead of using the directional switch. I just did not have the connectors to do it right and I did not want to cut the wires to connect to the DPDT switch. Oh well I need to wait for some more parts.
That would be needlessly complicated. You actually don't need any isolation except on the diverging routes of the #6s turnouts (both rails). The reason is that the diverging routes of a Unitrack Double crossover are already isolated in the middle of the unit. (That's the difference from Atlas turnouts.) So you don't need to add extra isolation, it's already done for you. Adding the extra isolating joiner creates the dead spot you encountered. Thus if you isolate the reversing section at the #6s you have a single isolated reversing section. That's all you need to accomplish. Actually, no, if you are using two powerpacks. What you need to do is switch the direction of the rest of the layout when you go through the reversing loop. The process goes like this: 1) Before you enter the loop, make sure the loop power pack is set to the direction you are going to go through the loop. (Call it "clockwise" or "counter-clockwise", label your powerpacks as such.) 2) Once your train is fully in the loop, switch the direction of the "mainline" powerpack to the direction that the train will be going when it comes out of the loop (i.e., just switch it.) (Also note that with your trackplan, you could go through your isolated section without reversing through the crossover. In that situation you wouldn't change the mainline direction because you don't reverse.) If you decide to move on from what I hope is a temporary solution of using two powerpacks, and use one powerpack, you will need two DPDT switches, one for the mainline and one for the reversing section. The process for reversing is still the same using those switches, but your powerpack can go back to having a "forward-reverse" switch which actually matches the direction of your locomotive.
Alright :thumbs_up:, thanks for the info. The two transformers is just temporary. I already have the toggle switches and I ordered the connectors for the Unitrack. I was just wanted to see it work. It seems like every day turns into a week and I hope one day soon I’ll finally have everything I need for full operation.
Just to make sure I got it right, I am only putting one set of Insulated UniJoiners inside each loop at the #6 turnouts before exiting the loop? I’m asking because I have done this and it still die on the #6 turnouts.
I just checked out all the rails for power and they are dead as soon as I switch either of the # 6 turnouts. There is nothing coming through the Crossover, So I definitely need to add powere to the rails between the both the #6 turnouts and the crossover. I don’t want to wait for more parts so I’m searching for that thread on adding a wire to a UniJoiners to make my own 24-818 Terminal UniJoiner.
I spoke too soon. Now the # 6 turnout works great, but the crossover shorts. I have a cold today and my head is throbing so I'm going to give up for now.
Johnny, I went back and looked at your layout diagram. You have two distinct reverse loops, which run between the #6 turnouts back to the double crossover. If you insulate the joins where I've marked in red, then, put regular power feeds at (at minimum) the green points, and power from your two auto-reverse modules along the blue and magenta lines, everything will work just fine. You will need additional power feeds around your turnouts on the bottom of the diagram, on each leg (plus some more along the continuous runs) Note - the double crossovers do not route power at all. To prevent stalls, you need to have power coming in on each leg
Thanks Rick. I'm going to study it and figure out what I need. I got it working this morning without any track isolation. I don’t know what I was doing last night but I was so sick that there is no telling. The biggest problem is getting those turnouts and the direction switch in the correct positions which really takes a quick mind and mine wasn’t working well. Right now its working, but its just temporary because I went through my junk box and found a Circuitron 5400 AR-1 Automatic Reversing board. I haven’t figured out how I’m going to hook it up, but I will have to isolate the track into blocks for that. Option 1 – Runs thru both loops in same the direction as Main Line Note: All power from Main is cut off and you can run two trains at the same time with two controllers. You only need to provide “right of way” for one of the trains as you switch the #6 turnouts. Option 2 – Eastbound train runs thru crossover and turns around in East Loops. Then the Crossover switches and Main reverses direction to allow train to exit westbound on Main Line Option 3 – Westbound train runs thru crossover and turns around in West Loop. Then the Crossover switches and Main reverses direction to allow train to exit eastbound on Main Line
Oh boy, I got to say that this is really cool. I was running 3 trains at the same time on 3 separate tracks and it went well except for two collusions when I tried to do something without slowing down a train in loop. I also forgot to throw a switch in time on a number of occasions. So I definitely, need some auto control. I‘m now looking at buying a Digitrax DS64 Quad Stationary Decoder Well, I got to go and do some chores now and leave the fun for later.
Unless you plan on having two trains in each reverse loop at the same time, you don't need two separate reversing sections like Rich drew. You only need one, which can go straight through the bottom of the crossover. Your single AR-1 may not be very useful. You would need to always enter the loops in the same direction, or else get another AR-1.
I’ll be doing everything I can with it. I originally had four #6 turnouts for loops and as I was watching two trains just going around and around in circles, I thought this is pretty boring. Then I started looking for ways to make it more fun. For a while there, I thought I might be able to sneak in a third main, but the layout was ½” too short. That when I noticed the double crossover I had installed in the mains. I quickly realized that if I use a crossover instead off two #6s, I could have my third line. Plus the thought of some signals and some auto crossing control was even more interesting. I have a 1’x8’ piece of plywood leftover and I’m thinking of building a Staging yard by connecting it in back to the far east spur or siding as it is now. .I want to be able to turn trains around before sending them back to the staging area. I haven’t figured out how I’m going to turn them around in the yard yet, but at least I’ll have the option. Anyway I’m getting pretty good at this setup right now, but I do need to isolate sections of track so that I can pull a train into one of the loops while I turn a train around on the other loop.
Try this; put double insulated joints just below the diamond between the No6 turnouts and then wire your R-L's in the basic normal way with 2 double insulated joints at either end. ~~AlanC.
I’m not following you. Maybe I don’t understand, but I think that would leave the turnouts both dead.
I was going through my files and I found this. I designed this over 2 years ago for an Atlas layout. I think it would be basically the same except for the Kato turnouts. I have to figure out how to handle the DC turnout motors and the double crossover. I know this is not the same configuration as what I got now, but I was just using it as a example of what I want to accomplish on this new layout.
