Reversing loop modules

A

Andrew_au

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Looking into adding a couple of sections that would require autoreversing. Am looking for recommendations as to what module to use.

Requirements / preferences:
  • must support outdoor G scale operation with DCC track power
  • operate without sensor sections
    • wiring must be two wires to isolated (reversing) section and two wires to common DCC source (another pair of rails / DCC trunk / booster)
    • these sections could have more than 2 ingress points. Wiring sensors for 2 transition points is annoying, wiring for more than 2 does my head in.
  • prefer solid state to relays
  • prefer cheaper, but willing to pay a bit more for a better solution
  • ability to also do occupancy detection (and other features) would be nice
  • prefer something I can get via an Australian distributor
What's your preferred solution, and where do I buy it?
 
Andrew_au said:
Looking into adding a couple of sections that would require autoreversing. Am looking for recommendations as to what module to use.

Requirements / preferences:
  • must support outdoor G scale operation with DCC track power
  • operate without sensor sections
    • wiring must be two wires to isolated (reversing) section and two wires to common DCC source (another pair of rails / DCC trunk / booster)
    • these sections could have more than 2 ingress points. Wiring sensors for 2 transition points is annoying, wiring for more than 2 does my head in.
  • prefer solid state to relays
  • prefer cheaper, but willing to pay a bit more for a better solution
  • ability to also do occupancy detection (and other features) would be nice
  • prefer something I can get via an Australian distributor
What's your preferred solution, and where do I buy it?
Click to expand...
It may be useful to know the DCC command station you use as some reverse loop modules work better with command stations from the same manufacturer.

I use Lenz DCC and a Lenz LK200 reverse loop module which ticks most of your boxes. No sensor sections, solid-state, two wires to DCC and two to the reversing section, works with occupancy detection systems including current detection, and quite cheap. HOWEVER it only supports 5A and 21v which may not be enough for your needs.
 
The DCC Specialties PSX-ARFB is probably your best solution. Zimo and MD Electronics also make reverse-loop modules with block occupancy detection that are suitable for large scale voltages and currents. But their occupancy detection is directed toward preferred systems, ZIMO and LocoNet if I have correctly interpreted their literature. The PSX-ARFB has a switched output for its occupancy detection that can be adapted to your specific needs.

One of the two ZIMO reversers, the MX7/3, has a unique feature that allows the reversing segment to be shorter than the train unlike all the other reversers I'm aware of. It makes use of three consecutive reversing segments. Here is the manual: http://www.zimo.at/web2010/documents/MX7E.pdf

Edit to correct ZIMO current capacity. The manual states "Track power ..... 3A", not what I'd consider suitable for large scale. The MD Electronics unit will handle 15A.
 
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What Phil S said... PSX-AR - no one makes a unit that is more reliable, more widely used and is programmable for trip current. It also understands the interaction between circuit breakers and the autoreverser.

There is virtually no other autoreverser used in any club in the USA.

3 amps capacity is silly large scale, and trip current programmable between 1.27 and 19.1 amps....

head and shoulders over anything else out there (there are options to sense occupancy, throw a switch, audio alert, etc.)

Greg
 
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