My brother and I have built a new helix for our layout while the construction is pretty much finished we have encountered a problem that I didnt think of until the time came to lay new trackage to helix. We are using an MRC DCC system to operate the layout and I have realized that the reversing loops that we have bult to reverse the trains will cause a short when connected, we need to know if we need to insulate the entire helix and reversing loops to correct this or what? Will the entire train need to be on loop between insulated rail joiners before a reversing switch can work or do we even need an auto rev switch with a DCC system? I know I am not being very descriptive with the question but I’m sure that some of you guys with more experience than us will know what we have encountered and have an answer, please help us, we want to run trains on our new helix for the first time. Thanks !
Very simple and one of the real advantages of DCC. There are auto reversing modules by a few different suppliers available. MRC makes a very good one. You just gap both rails at both ends of the reversing section (helix, reverse loop or where ever you have one) and install the module between the power bus wire and the drop feeders for that section. Very easy to do and not expensive at all.
My brother and I have built a new helix for our layout while the construction is pretty much finished we have encountered a problem that I didnt think of until the time came to lay new trackage to helix. We are using an MRC DCC system to operate the layout and I have realized that the reversing loops that we have bult to reverse the trains will cause a short when connected, we need to know if we need to insulate the entire helix and reversing loops to correct this or what? Will the entire train need to be on loop between insulated rail joiners before a reversing switch can work or do we even need an auto rev switch with a DCC system? I know I am not being very descriptive with the question but I’m sure that some of you guys with more experience than us will know what we have encountered and have an answer, please help us, we want to run trains on our new helix for the first time. Thanks !
Very simple and one of the real advantages of DCC. There are auto reversing modules by a few different suppliers available. MRC makes a very good one. You just gap both rails at both ends of the reversing section (helix, reverse loop or where ever you have one) and install the module between the power bus wire and the drop feeders for that section. Very easy to do and not expensive at all.