Pete 1 Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Hello! New to the forums so hopefully I’ve posted this in the right place and it all makes sense, I do have a tendency to waffle on.. New-Ish to model railways, been interested in it for years, the wife has only ever let me have a tiny layout 1ft by 3ft ish, if I’ve wanted to play I’ve just set it up on the lounge floor. However! For some reason she is now really involved and has let me take over half of her summer house. Won’t complain, won’t ask any questions. Anyway.. what I’m getting at is I’m stuck! And need help, after hours of trawling the web I’m just going round and round in circles and hopefully someone can shine a light on my problems. hopefully the picture below makes sense, nothing is to scale on there but I can’t work out how to change the polarity, my plan was to use an auto reverser between points 1/2. However this won’t work as the length of track is tiny, and a lot of the rolling stock has metal wheels so will send the reverser into overdrive. All my points are dc wired, however the track will be dcc as I’ve just made the change. But still like the idea of a panel of switches. Does any of the make sense? (Again waffling...) is this even possible to do? Am happy to change a point to dcc if this makes it easier/more doable. thanks In advance Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Is there any connection between the line to storage yard and the line Up to somethig? If not then you can install an auto reverser on the whole diagonal between the diamond on the top left and the point bottom right, this should be long enough. The storage yard will also change polarity but that doesn't matter. If there is a connection then there may be need of a third section break for the auto reverser. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete 1 Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 No, no connection between the 2. The line going up goes round and above that section to a station/shunting yard area. And the storage yard goes under. So I can install a reverser in between where point 3 and the diamond meet and then up to point 1? I suppose if it’s not long enough I could make sure the last rolling stock has plastic wheels? In your opinion what’s the best reverser out there? Or are they all pretty much the same? thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 There are always a dozen ways to skin cats. As well as diamond, through sidings to turnout as Keith (Grovenor) suggested, here's another. Could do the whole of the orangy-red line area. As to which reverser: pick a solid state one over a relay type, and further choices depend on the DCC system you have as at least three factors come into play: Speed of switching (reverser needs to switch faster than your system shuts down for a short), trip current (reverser must trip at lower current than your system), compatibility with RailCom (only relevant if your system uses RailCom). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete 1 Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Oh wow. That didn’t even cross my mind that I could isolate that part of the track! Gives a bit more scope in terms of running longer trains. I’ve not used it yet, but I’ve just bought the Hornby select with 2 locos set. So I was looking at the Hornby module R8238, figured that would be compatible enough with their controller? Or my other choice was the gaugemaster DCC40. Doesn't seem to be many out there? But knowing me I’m probably not looking hard enough! Ha. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Searching for "DCC auto reverser" in Google returned Digitrains & Coastal DCC, both of who sell several different ones. If in doubt, give them a call. I have found both Jeremy at Digitrains & Kevin at Coastal to be very helpful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John ks Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 A slight variation of Nigelcliffe's idea I have only drawn the relevant parts of the layout The DPDT contacts can be a switch or relay interlocked with point 1 The green section is only connected to the AR(auto reverse) module when Point 1 is set to curved If suitable, by moving point 2 as shown you get a slightly better flow into the storage yard by eliminating an "S" curve & the brown section becomes long enough to park a loco or DMU. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 I don't think the added complexity of the DPDT switch in John KS' suggestion is worth the bother. The auto-reverser either works or it doesn't. Adding switches to bring it in/out of circuit seems to be adding unnecessary complexity to the wiring. I'm all in favour of using switches on turnouts to remove the need for auto-reversers where the formation permits it, but switches plus autoreverser doesn't really help. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete 1 Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 Thank you for all your replies, this has helped me out a lot. I have now ordered an auto reverser so will let you know how that all pans out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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