DCC Reverse Loop Module

[Mr Bones]

I went for the PSX AR and I'm close to setting this up, but have a question reference the wiring. Can I use the feed coming from the PSX AR as a bus wire connected via droppers to each section of the reverse loop?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but it seems all the examples I can find of the wiring only shows one or two wires feeding the tracks.

[Steve M]

Simple answer, yes you can. It’s how I wired the reverse loop section of my N layout. (before I changed it ).

[Mr Bones]

Thanks Steve

[Mr Bones]

Just setting this up now and noticed that the advice on the PSX AR is to stagger the insulating track joiners, so as not to have them next to each other as you would normally. It says to stop metal wagon wheels from connecting to both rails either side at the same time.

Is this good advice and common practice or an unnecessary hassle?

[Steve M]

I didn’t stagger either of mine - no issues.

[Mr Bones]

Thanks again Steve.

[RAF96]

Think about the electrical polarity flow as wagon wheels pass over a staggered joint.

My thoughts are an on-line joint would work perfectly as the reverse loop module would see each ‘glitch’ at the same instant.

This of course doesn’t work so well if you have say a coach bogie with all left wheels on the first bogie to left rail and all right wheels on the trailing bogie to right rail, as there is a lag between the first axle hitting the switch over break and the second axle hitting it so there is an overlap whilst the module gets its act together and may be where the staggered joint logic comes from. The stagger gap being the same length as the bogie wheelbase.

[Mr Bones]

Thanks RAF makes sense. I've finished it tonight and not staggered them, so far so good.