This may have been covered in another topic or migh even be common knowledge - apologies on both counts, but I'm a DCC neophyte. My layout as designed has a reversing loop at either end of the single-track mainline. I'm well aware of DCC reversing boosters and how they operate in reversing polarity instantaneously as the loco passes thru. My question is; for hands-off continuous running while I'm otherwise occupied (switching the yard for example) can the turnouts that are part of this loop be automatically controlled as well? The situation I envision - train enters loop facing points thrown toward left diverging route. Train takes the left diverging - negotiates loop and approaches the turnout again in the reverse direction on the right path, turnout points still thrown toward left path. Unless I'm there to throw the switch, can the detection of approach and turnout control be automated?
Here's what I did using atlas switches, I shaved the throw bar down enough to allow trains to go through the wrong way without derailing, it took a lot of trial and error but once I had it adjusted even a light car wouln't derail, I'm sure there are better ways to do it but this way was free and if it's free it's for me !
You would likely need to use some sort of detection system to throw the turnout. You don't have to use DCC for this, but if you control the turnouts with DCC and you use DCC occupancy detection systems, you could use Panel Pro from JMRI to automatically throw the switch, I believe. The simplest (??) approach (using sensors and such) would be to develop a circuit that would detect the on coming train and throw the switch to the proper direction. I think I have seen these online.
Check out DCC Specialties Hare or Wabbit. Both have an autothrow feature for automating reverse loop entry/exit points.
You could also use BD1s or a BD4 to drive the A and S inputs of a DS64 stationary decoder. Page 4 of the DS64 app note on the Digitrax website describes a similar application. Lotsa options.
RWC, ----------------- The situation I envision - train enters loop facing points thrown toward left diverging route. Train takes the left diverging - negotiates loop and approaches the turnout again in the reverse direction on the right path, turnout points still thrown toward left path. Unless I'm there to throw the switch, can the detection of approach and turnout control be automated? ---------------- I am doing this exact thing. I am using the Tony's PS-REV autoreverse module for each reversing section and use the very reasonably priced NCS Switch-It's to control the turnouts automatically. Very sweet, no trigger rails or complex programming to make it work. The Wabbit and Hare work well but I found them more trouble to make work correctly. The PS-REV has an output specifically designed to work with stationary decoders and gives specific instructions for the Switch-It. It uses the automatic track polarity change as a trigger to move the turnout. The only thing to be careful of, and this is with any automatic system, is to be sure the gaps that trigger the polarity change are far enough from the turnout to allow the tortoise to complete its transition. The DCC Specialties newer model autoreverse module, the PSX-AR, has an output for the tortoise already built in so you would not even need the Switch-It with this model. I realize this reply is a little late but still hope it helps you out. PeteC
