HAZ - if you’re getting an MRC PA, here is the link to ALL MRC DCC manuals in .pdf format. They have a great drawing of how to do a reverse loop and they also have an auto-reverse loop module for their DCC system. http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/resourcesTrainControls.asp
You will need two insulated rail joiners. If you want to be cheap (like me), you can wire in a DPDT toggle switch for manual reversing the voltage.
So you are pretty satisfied with the Lenz LK100 units??
I don’t know much about the subject of reversing loops with DCC.
Hi Brian:
I don’t think you are going to get an answer to your question from the previous poster because he/she is no longer participating on the forums. When the term “anonymus” is used to refer to the author of any post it indicates that the person has withdrawn from the forums for whatever reason.
You should also be aware that you have asked a question on a thread that is 12 years old. The last post was in 2006. The technology referred to in the thread is likely way out of date (I could be wrong).
I’d suggest starting a new thread even though questions about reverse loops have been asked numerous times in the past. I suspect that you have already tried the search function. The search engine on the forums doesn’t work very well.
Dave
Brian, a reverse loop, or reversing section as I prefer to call it, is simply the result of joining together two tracks with rails of opposite polarity.
If you think of the two rails each being a different color, it becomes easy to visualize the problem. Where the two different colored rails meet, it creates a short. The solution is to isolate the reversing section by inserting gaps in the apppropriate locations and then wiring the section separate from the rest of the layout.
An auto-reverser is used to flip and match the polarities or you can do it manually with a DPDT switch.
Rich
Hi Rich,
I do understand the reverse polarity of the matter.
One question that nags at me is what happens when a loco comes to this particular point of track where the reverse polarity is desired, and yet it may have one set of its wheels (front truck) on the ‘new section’, and one set (rear truck) on the ‘old section’? Seems to me to be a conflict?? Did I explain that correctly?
And if one is operating with DCC and sound, and wants thing to accure automatically??
Thanks Dave I had not realized that.
I just happened across this forum subject when searching for Lenz LK100.
I do need to do a little more reading on this subject of reverse loops. I would like to have them as foolproof as possible without a lot of complication in electrics??
Still, it’s good to see that you did some searching of the archives before asking questions.
Robert
The reversing section will change polarity to match the adjacent non-reversing section. So, as soon as the front wheels of the loco cross the gap from the “old section” (non-reversing section) into the “new section” (reversing section), the polarity in the new section will match that of the old section.
As the front wheels of the loco cross the gap to exit the “new section”, the polarity in the “new section” will match the section that it is entering. This is done automatically and electronically by an auto-reverser, and it happens so quickly that the momentary short is not a factor.
Rich
Auto-reversers don’t work the way you would want them to on DC. They are DCC-only devices.