I recently replaced an old atlas turnout that was crudded up from scenery material accumulation. Prior to that my mrc reverse loop module was working fine. Now after replacing th old turnout with a newer atlas turnout the reverse loop sort of works.
I am running gp38s (no big wheel locos) thru it. The engine passes thru the one gapped end and goes thru the loop ok until it passes over the other gap near the reverse module. This end is also near the turnout that was replaced. As it passes over it, it shorts out. As soon as I move the engine beyond the insulated gap it continues like nothing ever happened. I replaced the module also. I did try replace the new turnout with the old crudded up one but same results so I am pretty sure it is not the turnout.
could even a bad rail joiner cause a problem?
I am using the mrc prodigy system.
Any thoughts on my problem. I am stumped. in the meantime I will work on my river that has been ignored.
I can think of only one thing that would cause that. The reversing circuit may be faulty. If it was the turnout causing it, it would effect the other one too I would think. What happens when you run the train through in the oppisite direction? Does it short out in the same place? If it can be done, remove the turnout and see iff the reversing gap still shorts. If it does, it’s the reversing module.
Well I tried 2 more turnouts and another module. Also no turnout and different module. Same as before. it will run going into the reverse loop opposite the end where the module is. once it hits the other gap. Stops.
I think you’ve got something mis-wired here. You may have gotten away with it, because the old turnout was not carrying power the way it’s supposed to. By replacing the turnout, you’ve fixed that problem and uncovered another one. Do you have any other feeders to the loop beyond the turnout other than the ones from the reverse module? Also, does the reverse module connect to any other feeders besides those in the loop? That would be wrong.
How long is the loop? It sounds like the turnout is at both the beginning and end of the loop. So, I’d assume that the insulators should be right at the frog-end of the turnout, on all 4 rails. That’s the best place, because it allows you to run the longest possible train through the loop.
Well here we go again. I once again replaced the newer turnout with an old old atlas snapswitch, the type where the solenoid is separate from the linkage. The older switch is what was in there when all was working fine. Hooked up the reverse module and same thing. Too late in the evening to try anymore trouble shooting. If I keep at it any longer probably wont be able to sleep. I will solder up some more track joiners at the turnout and a few other possible areas for a good contact.
Will keep all posted if anyone is interested
p.s. I did remove the turnout on the loop and filled in with temporary track and tried that also. Same thing so i think that rules out the turnout being bad.
Hmm, yes, I don;t see how you could replace the turnout in a reverse loop arrangment with ‘regular’ track and still have the loop. If you mean you connected the main to one side of the loop, ran a train in, then connected the main to the other side to try and run it out, that would work.
It almost sounds as if the gaps have closed up somewhere. Did you just cut the rail, or did you use an insulated joiner? If you just cut the rail, check that expansion hasn’t closed the gap. A small piece of plastic glued in and then filed to chape will keep that from happening.
You don’t have to run a train to test things. Just short the gap in one rail at one end of the loop ad the MRC unit should click. The short one of the gaps at the other side of the loop and it should click again. Short the same gap twice in a row and there shouldn’t be any clickign as the polarity has already been set to handle that gap. The Atlas turnouts are not power routing to the position of the turnout should not matter.
Yes. Each route beyond the frog must be gapped, but then serve to close a loop of track beyond the gaps. The AR gets power from the bus, just like any other track section, then feeds the gapped loop. When the first set of conductive wheels bridges the opposingly polarized rails, the AR senses the surge and reverses the polarity to both rails in a tiny fraction of a second.
I just installed a Tony’s PS Rev, recommended by Randy here, and can’t say I have any complaints at all. Works wonders.
i was having the same problems some weeks back. i asked the advice of the lhs i purchased the mrc reverse module from. his advice was to connect any feeder/bus within the reverse loop tracks to the mrc reverse module wires. i am not at my layout now but i guess they are the mrc wires that you connect to the tracks. i had to purchase a power distributor panel to connect a few wires to the mrc reverse module.
i am not a technical person so i hope i have explained this solution well.