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RailPro => RailPro Specific Help & Discussion => Topic started by: KB02 on March 16, 2025, 07:42:00 AM

Title: Sparks When Entering a Reverse Section?
Post by: KB02 on March 16, 2025, 07:42:00 AM

I have been working on rebuilding my layout into a modular, or sectional, style. I have one section of track set up with the AR-1 reverser. I have noticed that when trains are entering the reversed section, and the current had previously been in the opposite polarity, I will see a small spark where the loco wheels hit the track.
A.) Should I worry about this?
B.) Any way to reduce this from happening?
Perfectly willing to admit to a tiny bit of simple paranoia here. Model trains and tiny sparks go together like PB&J. This is just something I happened to notice and now my brain is fixating on it, you know?

Title: Re: Sparks When Entering a Reverse Section?
Post by: gregeusa on March 16, 2025, 08:44:43 PM

A, no
B, probably not

Autoreversers that do not use a sensor or sensor track will detect the momentary short.

There has been endless debates on this. My 10 year old locos with 20 amps on the track and pulling about 5 amp have no noticeable issues on the tread surface.