Post by: carpediem4570 on April 11, 2026, 04:34:13 PM
ISOLATING CROSS-OVER IN A LOOP
Greetings One and All:
We have some progress with a few minor changes to the track plan. I’ve include a cross-over reverse on a loop.
I need advice on track isolation.
In the photo, I have marked the track in the affected area with red for positive and black for negative.
The areas circled in blue is where the positive and negative reverse when connecting to the loop. The exception is the cross in the middle. I circled this because I am wondering if this cross needs to be isolated separately.
The four areas highlighted in green are where I think I need to isolate the track from the loop with plastic fishplates. Can I use plastic on just one rail; red or black or, do both rails need to be isolated?
I have two auto reverse, (ar), units. Can I use one ar for the entire cross-over or do I need one ar for each leg?
Your help as always, is appreciated.
Kind regards,
Max
Post by: carpediem4570 on April 12, 2026, 08:52:31 PM
Got the track laid on the three ovals and the reverse loop section. To test the track for problems, I ran my dc locomotive and cars.
I isolated the four directions of the cross in the reverse loop with plastic fish plate.
Had a dead spot on the cross and once across that, the locomotive reversed direction. Who knew, lol.
Switching direction on my power pack allowed me to go on my merry way.
Wiring this for railpro, I will install my auto reverse units. I still have to figure out how to do that. Do I need one or two auto reverse units? Will I have to rewire the cross with jumper lines? Where do I isolate the track?
Well, it’s a learning curve. A pleasant one. Glad I’m retired, lol.
The red arrow points to the cross. The blue lines show where I used plastic fish plates.
Kind regards,
Max
Post by: G8B4Life on April 13, 2026, 08:23:28 AM
You have put the insulated (plastic) joiners in the wrong spot, they really need to be where you have put the green lines in your first pic, just after each turnout (while what you have done would technically work the length of track to auto-reverse in is realistically too short to to work well). As these legs are quite short you need to be sure that you don't bridge the insulated joins at each end of a leg at the same time with something that conducts, like and engine or something with wheel wipers or you will get a short.
- Tim