With apologies.

Greg Elmassian said:
Actually, since you set the polarity FIRST before entering the "loop" there is no possibility of a short.

Likewise, since you then set the polarity BEFORE leaving the loop there is no possibility of a short.

Of course this depends on the train fitting entirely within the loop as stated ad nauseum.

I'd say that Neil's statement is most accurate, but staggering a few inches is not much length lost.

It would be helpful Sarah to give us your idea of a maximum train length as compared to your shortest "loop" (minimum distance between insulators)

The better and more constrained the questions, the better the answers.

Greg
Click to expand...
You are right of course, my mind was in Reverce Loop Module mode, not sure if I am right in that event either. I have always just put Isolators at the same joint and cannot really see why one would want to do any diferent!
 
There are times when the "convenient" joints do not line up... I've had that happen, since my layout is all sectional track, but some custom curves done which has changed the "lineup" of joiners. Since I use SJ rail clamps, it's no big deal.

I would not be so quick to jump in here, but it's clear we have confused Sarah before with conflicting answers... so trying to help her the best...

Regards, Greg

p.s. if/when she does employ a reverse loop module, the "detect short type" won't care, but the ones that want an independent sensing section will mind I believe, so striving to line them up for the future is indeed not a bad idea, I agree.
 
It would be a very bad practice to stagger the insulating joints at each end of a reverse loop's isolated section. Any loco or wagon that has more than one electrical pickup on each side has a higher, probably much higher chance of shorting things out. If you are concerned about the physical integrity of your insulated joints which I believe is the reason for your question about staggered joints, I recommend Massoth's insulated joiners. Their screws make them very secure unlike LGB's yellow insulated joiners that just slip over the rail ends.

Phil S.
 
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You're right Greg. But, I believe early on Sarah mentioned installing a reverse loop module when the $'s (or £'s ) became available. - Phil S.
 
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