I’ve been using a MRC 520 auto reverser which now seems to have died. Not sure how to check it out, but the rest of the layout has good power but the track within the loop is dead.
Any suggestions how to check it further? More to the point, I need suggestions about what other Car’s will be a good choice.
Mike Thomasson
Autocorrect took over. Not Car’s…AR’s
I googled your MRC model #. It seems this is for a DC layout. I would suggest you take a look at the Circuitron AR-1 Auto Reverser.
http://www.circuitron.com/index_files/ins/800-5400ins.pdf
Good luck!
Neal
When I google an MRC 520 it shows up as a DCC Auto Reverser.
https://www.modelrectifier.com/product-p/ad520.htm
Since the OP states that the track within the loop is dead I assume he is talking about a DCC reversing loop.
Have not had any experience with an MRC 520.
A good replacement would be a DCC Specialties PSX-AR or a Digitrax AR1.
Yes,a DCC reversing loop. I think I’m going with the Digitrax AR 1since it seems to be the most available. Last question. Is there anyway to test my current AR?
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I’m a fan of the solid state auto-reversers rather than those using relays. They are fast and can respond very quickly.
I have one on a reversing section that crosses a track oval diagonally. Since it’s a crossover, not a loop, a train can be a bit longer than the reversing section. Yes, sometimes it can mess up if I’m not careful, but mostly the AR unit handles the multiple polarity flips just fine.
I have three of the Digitrax AR1 reversers on my layout. Two work fine but the third has never worked quite right no matter how much you adjust the trip point – it depends on the loco in use whether it will trip or not. One of the solid state reversers might be a better way to go.
Maybe I’m confused, but I thought the AR1 was solid state. The MRC 520 is a mechanical relay and the photo I saw of the AR 1 just looked like a printed circuit board. I need some clarity.
The Digitrax AR1 is a mechanical relay, slower than the solid state PSX-AR that someone recommended earlier in this thread. Another advantage of the PSX-AR over the MRC 520 or the Digitrax AR1 is that the PSX-AR is also a circuit breaker which provides protection to your DCC booster.
Rich
Hello All,
For the wye on my pike I use the MRC 520AD. It doesn’t get a lot of use but I’ve had it since 2014.
The obvious questions are:
I recently switched from the Bachmann Dynamis DCC system to NCE, both were rated at 5 Amps.
When I added the NCE EB1 Circuit Breaker it wrought havoc with the AR unit. It sent it into a feedback loop.
I could hear the contacts in the AR unit clicking endlessly. I suppose, had I not reset the system, I could have fried the AR unit. Luckily I was able to catch the fault in time- -every time.
For more info on that thread check out, EB1 is not resetting.
The only way I can think of testing the AR unit is setting up a simple balloon track, with a single turnout, as shown in the MRC 520AD directions.
An old-school way of “testing” the unit is to remove it and smell it. If it smells of burnt plastic then the “magic blue smoke” has been released and it is indeed fried.
You can also contact MRC and see what they have to say.
For recommendations on an AR unit, I’d stick with the brand of your DCC system.
NCEs auto reverser
I stand corrected. Not sure why Google said it was for DC…
I use DCC Specialties PSX-AR and they work great, easy to install…
Neal
No worries. Sometimes google does funny things. We use 9 PSX-AR’s on our club modules and they do work great.
They are the best I’ve worked with. I have 13 on my layout and no issues with them at all.
13 PSX-ARs! 9 PSX-ARs!
Wow, my 4 PSX-ARs pale by comparison. I would love to see diagrams of your track plans. Amazing!
Rich
Sorry, do not have any track plans to post. We have two modular layouts, each about 30 ft long. Each has some straight modules and a return loop on each end. We use a modified n-trak concept. Each straight module has at least 3 tracks going through the module. All 3 tracks are the same polarity (so we can switch tracks without any shorts).
On the end modules track 1 loops around and goes to track 3 (one psx-ar). Track 2 loops around and goes back to track 2 via a turnout controlled by another psx-ar. That accounts for 8 psx-ar’s. There is one psx-ar that controls a turntable.
One of our layouts is a representation of Wildwood, Fl in the 1950’s. The other one is a generic layout with a container port and various industries.
bavrail, that sounds awesome. Thanks for that description.
My layout is a double mainline dogbone in an open P-shape with two reversing sections on each end, for a total of four PSX-ARs.
Here is a photo of my command station. The four PSX-ARs are on the bottom shelf, and there are three PSX units on the shelf above the PSX-ARs which control the non-reversing sections of my layout.
Rich
Thanks, Neal, that does help me to visualize your setup. Sounds pretty cool. I love reversing sections for what they accomplish and why they are needed.
Rich