Am I correct in assuming that no special arrangments or wiring needs to be done when making a reverse loop in DCC, aside from double-insulating the track?
No, that’s not correct. You will need to wire the loop through a double-pole, double-throw switch, just like in DC. A better option is is to buy a DCC reverser unit. Several companies make these. I like the one from Tony’s Trains.
Crap. How much are these? Another $60? How would it be wired? I’m doing some pre-laying of track now (nothing’s glued down yet) and only have both rails insulated betwen two turnouts. I have to manually throw the switch to run a train through the loop?
In that case, I’ll just forget the reverse loop then. I guess DCC, though cooler than DC, isn’t as cool as I thought.
Not so fast Red Line! The MRC and Digitrax Auto-reverse units are about $25 and very easy to install (4-wires. Even I can do it.) A reversing loop can add a lot of interest. Go for it.
It’s not hard at all to wire. Solder wires onto the rails before the turnout to the reversing loop, connect them to the input of the reversing unit, and then from the output of the reversing unit, run two more wires and solder them to the rails between the insulated section of track that is insulated on both ends in that section of the reversing loop. You can also do without the reversing unit by wiring in a DP/DT switch which only costs about $5 - $7 but you’ll have to throw the switch every time the train is within the insulated section of the reversing loop for it to work. …chuck
I did some reading on this and it said each reversing unit must have its own booster. Is this true?
No, this is untrue. In fact the reversing unit can be fed from the same block that you insulated it from. All it does is reverse the polarity when it senses the locomotive crossing the insulators from the reversing section. I use a PS Rev from Tony’s for $44.95.
No, nada, nyet! NOT true at all. I have two of the Tony’s PS/Rev units, one for my turntable and one for the reversing section to my hidden staging. They do NOT require individual boosters. (I’ve also got a pair of PS/4s, so a total of 10 protected sections, and I have only one booster.)
Here’s a link to Tony’s info: http://tonystrains.com/technews/new_pscombo_details.htm
The diagram and info show ONE booster with TWO PS/Revs and TWO PS/1 PowerShields.
And yes, you CAN use a DPDT switch. If the $$ seems high, wire it that way. Replacing the switch with a PS/Rev can always be done later, with no other rewiring.
Most of us think the PowerShields are far better than other products, as they’re all electronic, and worth the slightly higher price.
I hope you’re right, but Tony’s page itself says thus:
(from http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/wiring/reverse-loop.htm
If you choose the auto reversing booster strategy, you will need at least two boosters. One will be the system reference booster and the second will be the auto reverser. The good news is that you can run more than one reversing section on a single auto-reversing booster.
Huh? What’s a “reversing booster?”
You just need the PS-Rev. Feed it from your normal bus, and run the output to the track. I’ve got 2 of these, and that’s what I do. I don’t even think about it any more. I just run the trains, and let the electronics do their thing.
Read it again, please.
First, note it says “If you choose . . .”, meaning yes, you can do it that way IF YOU WANT TO.
Then read two paragraphs before that one: "If you use an auto reversing strategy you will power the reverse secti
Some boosters, notably Digitrax’s, can be configured to operate as auto-reversers. They can be either a normal booster or auto-reverse booster, but not both at the same time, thus a minimum of two boosters is required.
An auto-reverser like the PS-REV does NOT need a separate booster. It handles the reversing and the booster never sees anything.
These are two completel different things. Also, you would not put an auto-reverser like a PS-REV downstream of a booster configured as an auto-reverser. It’s pointless even if it does work.
In the basic configuration, both rails of the reverse loop would be insulated at each end of the loop. Power to the input of the auto-reverser would come from the existing booster or the bus feeding the nearby track. the output of the auto-reverser would feed the insulated rails fo the reverse loop section.
–Randy