Reversing sections with Digitrax DB150 and AR-1

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The reversing section needs to be longer than your train, so this won't work. 
DFF

Hold on! It only needs to be longer than your power.

Adam, when I had similar questions, I was highly cautioned against using Digitrax AR1s. Apparently they're prone to failure and misbehaving.
But... if you're willing to put up with that risk, I have one you can have that might make your situation there easier.

If you're not, well, the Tony's OG-AR seems to be where it's at. I've got one of those in use under York, and I have zero complaints.

[mu26aeh]

I thought it was longer than consist 

I had an AR hooked up for porters with no problems.   @John has graciously sent me a spare AR he had, in the mail today.  So we'll see what we have at that point

[davefoxx]

Hold on! It only needs to be longer than your power.

Not if you're running metal wheelsets, and especially if you have lighted passenger cars.  Most of the time, you might be okay, but those situations can put undue stress on the reverser.

DFF

[peteski]

I thought it was longer than consist 

I had an AR hooked up for porters with no problems.   @John has graciously sent me a spare AR he had, in the mail today.  So we'll see what we have at that point

Well . . .
If your freight/passenger cars have plastic wheels then the reversing section only needs ot be as long as the motive power (with its metal wheels). But if your cars all have metal wheels then it is safest to have the reversing section longer than the longest trains. Why? Because every time any metal wheel bridges the gap in either rail on either side of the section, it might end up flipping the polarity of the reversing section. If a metal wheel happens to cross the gaps on both sides of the section at the same time then you will end up with a solid short across the tracks. While it is unlikely that this will happen, there is a possibility. Especially with lit passenger cars where all the wheels are interconnected electrically for the full length of the car.

[John]

If you're not, well, the Tony's OG-AR seems to be where it's at. I've got one of those in use under York, and I have zero complaints.

The AR1 works fine most of the time .. but I am slowly replacing some of mine with OG-ARs as well ..

[davefoxx]

My AR-1 works fine.  Yes, it's not silent when it throws.  But, mine is generally obedient, and I have rarely felt the need to adjust it.  In fact, sometimes it throws before the Hex Frog Juicers that are wired within the loop!  Sometimes, I can hear the AR-1 reverse when a locomotive hits one of the frogs within the loop.  I could probably adjust the AR-1, but this has been causing no operation problems.  In the interest of not fixing things when they aren't broken, I've left it alone.

DFF

[mu26aeh]

Ok, so new question.  If it's the longest train ( metal weels), I don't think that will fit between wye and turnout Dave suggested 

[John]

Ok, so new question.  If it's the longest train ( metal weels), I don't think that will fit between wye and turnout Dave suggested 

just make that loop the reversing section

[davefoxx]

just make that loop the reversing section

^This.

DFF

[mu26aeh]

Ok, so now I think we've made a circle here.  With the original picture, I have tracks gapped at the wye with Porters (yellow line).  With the new paper mill area, the blue line represents suggested spot for new gap.  But with running metal wheels, my trains will not fit in that space between gaps.  So my thought is new gaps need to be at the green lines, with second AR powering the track beyond the green lines.  First AR powers track between yellow and green lines. 

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[Lemosteam]

Metal wheels are still isolated on one side and unless there is an electrical path from one axle to another (like a brass car with brass sideframes and no further isolation) they should not short the loop?

[John]

do what you want, but for the paper mill area, the only gaps you need are at the yellow blue line, and the whole section is the reversing loop .. another train can also enter later, and it should still work

[mu26aeh]

do what you want, but for the paper mill area, the only gaps you need are at the yellow blue line, and the whole section is the reversing loop .. another train can also enter later, and it should still work

Will I still need the second AR installed ?  One in between the yellow and blue line, and one for the paper mill ?

[John]

Will I still need the second AR installed ?  One in between the yellow and blue line, and one for the paper mill ?

is there another loop south of the yellow line?

[mu26aeh]

there is a wye

2017-01-28_11-00-55 by Adam Henry, on Flickr