Author Topic: dc block wiring for an engine track  (Read 1039 times)

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h2w

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dc block wiring for an engine track
« on: March 08, 2015, 07:17:40 PM »
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 I m going to use a single siding to park about 4 engines, each engine section having its own block, using the common rail wiring, so do I just cut gaps to isolate each 9 inch section and add the block feeder. my concern is say the blocks are labeled front closest to the rear A, B, C, D and if the engine in block a is pulled onto the main when it hits the gap whats the chance the othern blocks would activate and if so how do I prevent that?
thanks
mark

jagged ben

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Re: dc block wiring for an engine track
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2015, 07:32:35 PM »
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I m going to use a single siding to park about 4 engines, each engine section having its own block, using the common rail wiring, so do I just cut gaps to isolate each 9 inch section and add the block feeder.

Sounds good to me.

Quote
my concern is say the blocks are labeled front closest to the rear A, B, C, D and if the engine in block a is pulled onto the main when it hits the gap whats the chance the othern blocks would activate and if so how do I prevent that?

Bridging the gap to the main will not affect the other sections on the siding if all those sections are properly gapped and have their own feeders.

BTW for this situation you don't really need separate blocks, strictly speaking.  You could connect each feeder for each section through an on-off switch and then connect the all four switches to the feeder for the whole siding.  That would make it all one block, but with on/off sections.  You only turn on the sections if you want the loco on that section to move.

craigolio1

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Re: dc block wiring for an engine track
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2015, 08:35:25 PM »
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Agreed. Jagged bens idea is a very good one. You really only need separate blocks if you will have multiple cabs accessing different sections of those engine  tracks at the same time . The engine track would be part of the same block as the track it's connected to, or its own whole block with the on off switches allowing control of the sub sections.

I think actual separate block control of all of those individual sections could cause disaster. You only want one person controlling that track.

Lighted switches would be helpful too. Four green lights means the back loco is clear straight through the whole track.

Craig.