LGB Reverse Loop Thingy

[duncan1_9_8_4]

On behalf of my dad, how does the above item work? Is it one per reverse loop, and is it track mounted or controller mounted. Do you have to stop like on the analouge ones, or can you run continuousley? He has two turning circles. Not good with wires lol.

 

[Steve]

Try this link to the below book in PDF .

The book is a must for all beginners

http://www.onlytrains.com/model/railroad/WLGB.html < Link To http://www.onlytrains.com/model/rai...umente/lgb_00559_explore_the_world_of_lgb.pdf < Link To pdf Document

 

[whatlep]

On behalf of my dad, how does the above item work? Is it one per reverse loop, and is it track mounted or controller mounted. Do you have to stop like on the analouge ones, or can you run continuousley? He has two turning circles. Not good with wires lol.

If we are talking about the LGB 55080, then it is a very simple device and there is no point in having more than 1 per layout, as I'll explain. Note that LGB's instructions say you should have 1 per return loop: this is, I'm afraid, deliberately misleading. You can run through the loop without stopping, so the system lends itself to running "hands off".

As an aside, the Massoth return loop modules can work in two modes which I'll call "simple" and "clever": "simple" is identical to the LGB 55080; "clever" mode is much better, but to use it you DO need one reverse loop module for each loop/wye.

In "simple" mode, the electrics work by detecting if there is a short circuit on the main part of the layout. That's caused by the mismatch between polarity on the layout's main part and the loop. If there is, the loop track's polarity is switched, effectively instantaneously, by means of a DPDT (dual pole, dual throw) switch inside the 55080. It's a neat solution, but there are two drawbacks. First, because the short circuit is detected on the main track, ALL 55080s connected to that main track "see" the short and switch at the same time. Hence there is no benefit in having more than one 55080 on a layout. Second, although the polarity switch is very fast indeed, you can detect it by loco lights flickering and you can hear the spark between rail and the leading loco wheel. The sparking is undesirable both for wear on electrical components and contamination of both rail and wheel, though I suspect you'd have to operate for a long time before either became an issue.

 

[beavercreek]

I think that I am correct in saying that the 55080 is only for MTS/DCC use. The newer Massoth unit will work with both DC and DCC there is only some difference in the way that the wiring is carried out. It also in 'clever' mode it does away with the 'sparking and flickering light syndrome'

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

so the device will be activated/ing all the time as the hoop would not be insulated with plastic joiners? hmmmmmm where is the divide between hoop and normal running line?

 

[whatlep]

so the device will be activated/ing all the time as the hoop would not be insulated with plastic joiners? hmmmmmm where is the divide between hoop and normal running line?

You need isolating joiners on both rails at both ends of the loop. You must NOT bridge both sets of joiners at the same time (whether using LGB or Massoth) because then there is a permanent short circuit which can not be remedied by the loop unit. Hence if a train has metal-wheeled stock, the length of the loop between the sets of isolating joiners = the maximum train length through the loop.

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

so can you still only use one of these devices even if the return loops are some distance from each other? ie, at the other end of the garden?

 

[Gizzy]

so can you still only use one of these devices even if the return loops are some distance from each other? ie, at the other end of the garden?

I guess so?

It seems you just connect a parallel pair of wires from the output of your module to each loop....

 

[whatlep]

so can you still only use one of these devices even if the return loops are some distance from each other? ie, at the other end of the garden?

Yes. Done it! The only issue is the usual one of voltage drop, since you have to trail wires to the reversing loop from the unit. That became a problem for me, with one loop 40 metres from the house, but at that point I switched to Massoth with one for each of two loops hidden in an RSPB birdbox.

 

[steve parberry]

so can you still only use one of these devices even if the return loops are some distance from each other? ie, at the other end of the garden?

No if you have the more moden version you can have as many as you want but you must use the detection option.

Also you should be able to get away with one unit providing it is just a simple through line and a pair of loops at each end. you would wire it up slightly diferent where the trough line would be the section to change polarity and the loops would remain fixed. I will try to do you a picture if you want.

Steve

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

dont mean to be patronising, but are you all sure you can use just one turning circle device? got two special pieces of track for the isolating sections, but not sure about using just one actuall device???