Reverse Loop Question

[Wilk0203]

Newbie question! We have created an outdoor layout for our father in law- he’s been collecting G scale trains for 30 years! Trying to finish the layout as a surprise gift but having trouble in a dog bone layout making it fully automatic so train will continually run. We have both loops equipped with the LGB 10151 K and T but must manually switch the direction once the train is in the loop.
Question is- is there a way to wire in the loop to automatically trigger so train doesn’t stop? Or are their additional parts available to do this?
Thanks for any help.

 

[dunnyrail]

Ok you can do this with LGB EPL, you need to reverse the loop polarity or controller when the train is in the loop. So having the feed to the reverse section via an LGB Point Motor with an Auxilliary Switch that acts as a DPDT Switch then having that motor thrown when the loco is in the section and again after it has exited for both loops will do the job.

 

[Wilk0203]

Ok you can do this with LGB EPL, you need to reverse the loop polarity or controller when the train is in the loop. So having the feed to the reverse section via an LGB Point Motor with an Auxilliary Switch that acts as a DPDT Switch then having that motor thrown when the loco is in the section and again after it has exited for both loops will do the job.

Awesome. Thank you!

 

[Greg Elmassian]

if you want to enter the loops "either way", i.e. left or right, I think it becomes more complex. If you always enter the loops the same way, it becomes much simpler.

Greg

 

[Wilk0203]

if you want to enter the loops "either way", i.e. left or right, I think it becomes more complex. If you always enter the loops the same way, it becomes much simpler.

Greg

Thanks. We are just entering one way every time. Just can’t figure out how to automate it so we don’t have to manual put power supply in reverse each time it enters the loop.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

That's the easiest way to do it, you may want to make the switch a "spring switch" so that after the train exits the loop, it returns to the previous direction, guaranteeing entry the "right" way next time.

Greg

 

[OLD FELLA]

Ok you can do this with LGB EPL, you need to reverse the loop polarity or controller when the train is in the loop. So having the feed to the reverse section via an LGB Point Motor with an Auxilliary Switch that acts as a DPDT Switch then having that motor thrown when the loco is in the section and again after it has exited for both loops will do the job.

Exactly so. Sqire Dunnyrail has done it again -- putting his finger right on the spot! The LGB system using the Auxiliary Switch attach to the Point Motor really works well and is very reliable. Make sure that you have a long enough track in the loop to accommodate the longest train you envisage as it they have Metal Wheels and they overlap the limits of the distance between the two sensing rails, you may get some very odd feed-back effects.

After 10 years of LGB analogue, I am now converted to Battery/RC so such electrical niceties I can finally leave to others.