I have the need to be able to make some tracks in a little yard go dead so I can park some old DC engines there. Will it work if I put some SPST switches in one of the feeder lines, but not the other or do I need DPST switches to cut off both feeder lines? I am using Digitrax if that makes a difference.
Yep. I have done that with several tracks at my roundhouse so that I can park DC Locos and other equipment that has electric so that they can be left “dead” so to speak. Now my programing track, which is also my team track, I used a DPDT toggle so i could switch back and forth from the normal DCC to the Programing feed.
I use Peco Switches and power route some of the sidings to park my
DC locos
And one siding I installed a DTDP center off so i can use it as a programming track
or DCC or Park a loco and turn it off
If you want to flip the yard between DC and DCC then you will need a DPDT switch otherwise a DPST will work.
If all you want to do is kill the track, a simple SPST in the lead to either rail (isolated by gaps) will do it. Using a DPST to break the circuit to both rails is overkill.
KISS lives!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Yeah, an SPST is all you need, but you do need to use insulated joiners. If you’re using power-routing turnouts, that will do the job, too, but be careful where you put the joiners, so you don’t end up with a dead section.
Even with DCC, I find that I now use the toggles on my roundhouse stalls. I want to shut off the sound engines!
Mr. B,
Couldn’t you just use the kill switch for the sound (F9(???) on quantum, methinks?) Just asking this as a newbie with sound, since I only have one sound engine… I am building a roundhouse this year (I hope) so if this is too cumbersome let me know… then I will have to add some ol’ fashioned switches!!!
Brian
Correct. F9 will mute the sound on BLI Bluelines and QSI systems.
Thank you all. Back to the train room to work on the control panel. I am putting all my controls in the facia where the action takes place, This little yard by the quarry will use 4 humpyard levers.
LOL. You are in the same predicament I’m in trying to find a solution for.
This is the best I could come up with.
Unfortunately this setup means that your DCC system will still be run on blocks, so you will need to use your block selector. :-/
That’s really not a pleasent thought with all the DCC Sound Engines and their big start up currents.
The other possibility is have a seperate DPDT DC/DCC switch for every block. That way you could rig a bypass.
It’s the same with your room light switch. The switch cuts only one wire! That’s enough.
Wolfgang