Where do I put my Digitrax AR1?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
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2025-07-07_094651
2025-07-07_0946511920×2641 262 KB

Newbie here. I cannot for the life of me figure out where the actual return loops are on my layout. I have an Digitrax AR1 I could use but I’m not sure where to place it’s feeder wires. It’s a DCC layout, n scale.

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The only reverse loop is up where the slip switch crosses over to the other track, but is that a double mainline with two slip switches?

Rich

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You could also add some interest by adding another slip switch to the right of the existing slip switch to cross over from the upper track to the lower track. Something to consder.

Rich

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Gap all the tracks at the ends of Dexterville (just past the slip switch to the left, and where the three tracks diverge at the right) at the top of your track plan, and put the AR1 in line with the power to that section.

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What I don’t like about the plan, as drawn, is that trains start out running counter- clockwise but once they cross over on that slip switch they can only run clockwise thereafter.

If it were me, I would add another slip switch to the right of the existing one permitting trains that are running clockwise to exit the upper track and enter the lower track in order to run counterclockwise.

Then, I would gap both end loops and add a second AR-1, one auto-reverser for each reverse loop.

Lastly, I would wire all of the track between the two end loops in phase.

Rich

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Thanks Rich and Water_level_route. I have added a second (glad I still had one laying around) slip switch just to the right of the other slip switch. I will need to order a second AR1. Thanks again for the help.

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Thanks for the follow up , Chris. One track or two tracks?

Rich

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It is two tracks that just happen to be side by side. Not sure if it qualifies to me to be a two track mainline. I plan to place a small spur in the Coal area accessible by entering loop in the clockwise fashion, otherwise main flow is counter clockwise in Coal area.

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This is how a DCC expert told me how to wire in the AR1’s.
![image|677x500] Layout divided into four power districts:

  1. PSXX Zone Blue
  2. PSXX Zone Green
  3. PSXX-AR Zone Red
  4. PSXX-AR Zone Red / Yellowupload://mFwsxA8H0hmxZ9m71H5SbYMA0NA.jpeg)

image
image2427×1791 672 KB

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Good luck and keep us posted.

Rich