I’m having an issue with my reversing loop. I’m using DCC and have a digitrax AR1. My issue is it works flawlessly in one direction trips just fine the train travels around and you wouldn’t even know it was there. My issue is if I try to run the train the opsite way around the loop it doesn’t work at all I don’t seem to have any power the train hits the gap and stops dead no short or anything just stops like there is no power (which ther obviously isn’t or it wouldn’t stop). I’ve tried cleaning the rails and the contacts on the engine but no luck.
I’ve tried adjusting it with to no avail. Do I need another set of leads to the other side of the loop. I wired it like the instruction said I’m just wondering if the run is so far that it’s just not getting the power it needs at the other end to trip or even supply the track
It’s N scale and the loop is about 60" in lenght give or take a few inches
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Does your train stop at the same point going both ways around? What I’m trying to ask is your train stopping at the same set of gaps no matter what direction it is traveling in. Can it cross one set of gaps but not the other?
Move the reverse loop feeders over by the problem ‘gap’ - just for testing… It sounds like you have a poor electrical connection in the loop’s rail joiners. You did put feeders in for every section of track in that reverse loop, or solder the rail joiners - Right?
Also, you can adjust the sensitivity of the AR-1 with that small ‘pot’ on it.
According to the drawing: are the 2 parallel lines on the bottom actually connected? As drawn, doesn’t look like a reverse loop. If they’re connected at the bottom of the drawing, one of your gaps need to be moved to that cross section. It probably runs fine in one direction because thats the “normal” polarity and the AR-1 probably isn’t even doing anything. I think jrbernier might be right with poor electrical connectivity.
I guess that would be a good question. I have one set of feeder wires off of the AR1 as shown. I was unsure if I should (or could) put another set over to the other side of the loop. I have the loop made with two sections of 30" flex track I did solder the rail joiners I do that for every section except for obviously my gaps
Would I run the feeders off of the AR1 where it hooks up? Or would I jump them from where I have it hooked to the rails?
Also what is not shown in the picture is the fact that the loop loops my two main lines together. The way the layout is set up for the room I have I had two do it this way to get a continuous loop. I wanted to main lines and with the room I had it took some creative figureing to get it to work.
i hope this drawing is making it clear. I should know more about your trackplan, but you will need control two spots were the polarity can be different.
Between the switches the polarity is changed by the switches it self. At the straight end of both switches gaps are needed, both need to be connected to a AR. I am not sure, but i thought a AR could control more then one spot.
The top right drawing is essentially what I have and how I have my AR wired in. The instructions that come with it are fairly simple and I don’t want to fry it so I hooked it up exactly as shown.
It is sounding like I need to put in another set of wires from the AR to the other side of my loop to pick up the train crossing there. and provide the power I need over to that section.
I have been playing with the sesitivity but can’t seem to get it to pick up that far over.
It’s a good idea to run feeders off every length of track and solder every joint. That much you know. If you have feeders powering the track sections before the train comes to the gaps in the loop, it seems to me that if the current is adequate enough that the engine runs in one direction, it should work in both. It could be current loss due to the lenght of the unpowered run, but I’m guessing it might be something else.
So, the train goes around the loop and runs fine, but when reversed it stops…
Ok so yes it goes around completely one way doesn’t even hesitate. I can hear the AR kick in and change the polarity of the loop so I know thats working.
When it fails I am trying to run around the oposite direction It seems to just cross over the gap and stop just like if the track went dead. Which is why I am so confused because I know the track has power since I can run around it the other direction It ALWAYS stops in the same spot not a little more or a little less soon as it crosses the gap completly it stops. So I know there is power up to the gap. I also have a set of feeder wires just before the gap…And I just had a brain wave my closest set of feeders is about 40" away Maybe I’m just not getting the current to supply the AR properly that would give me almost 90 to 100" of track off of one set of feeders. And now I feel like a fool[:P]
yes… your train has to be on an isolated section of track, called the reversing section, with gaps on BOTH sides. If the train is on that section the polarity of the reversing section or the rest of the layout is changed. In DC the polarity of the rest of the layout has to be changed, since polarity sets the direction of the train.
An AR notices when the polarity between the reversing section and the remainder of the layout is not the same. Actually it notices a short when your engine enters a section with different polarity; but with the speed of light the polarity is changed. It will be done entering or leaving the reversing section. And it is done that fast you will not even notice it. So the AR has to be connected to both sets of gaps.
IMHO if a train runs well in one direction, feeders or electrical contacts are not at stake.
It’s not getting power I don’t get a short the command station is still active and if I just pull the train back over the gap all is fine again untill it crosses.
I’ve taken a picture and labeled it as best as I can to show exactly what I have done
the only gaps are in the ends of the main lines where the loop is it’s the only place I needed them. because I used insulated turnouts and kept all the polarity running the same there is no need for gaps I dont think
it is the drawing I gave you at the upper right, with a short at the indicated spot. Neg and pos are meeting again.
Believe me, only if a train is on a reverse section, with a set of gaps at both ends, your AR can change the polarity of the reversing track or the remainder of your layout. But since the spot with different polarity can be at both sets of gaps, you will have to connect your AR to both of them. Or use two AR’s.
In DC the polarity of the part where your train is heading to has to be changed, since polarity sets the direction in DC. The polarity of the part where your train is running must stay the same. In DCC the polarity does not affect the direction, so the polarity of either part can be changed.
I’ve just concluded wht my problem is and it’s so simple it’s almost emerasing. I conected a second set of leads up to the second gap and my train ran through no problem. then I tired it again and nothing. I switched tracks tried it again and it worked. Then I discovered if the turnout on the feeder track was thrown the AR was getting no power. So it turns out it is just a basic problem and I need another set of feeder wires to the back side of the turnout which I should have known becuase I figured that out a long time ago with insulated turnouts.
Thanks for all the help I probably would have never come to the conclusion without the help just one of thoes things I have been over looking.
Actually your notes on the picture are incorrect. Someone noted earlier and was correct that you don’t have a reversing loop where you show it. The reversing section is between the 2 turnouts before the loop.
Look at your annotations on the picture. On the right side the positive is on the outside rail. When it loops back on the left the positive should still be on the outisde rail which is to the left of the picture. You have it labled backwards in that area.
If you throw both turnouts of the cross over and run a loco through you’ll get a short.
A pic of the entire layout would help to determine a better place for it or a better place for rail gaps and the AR1
actly what I have done