Power for Wye Junction

[HODenew]

Will I need to isolate any switches on the Wye Junction so there are no shorts and can I use one controller.

Not doing DCC yest, just starting.

Thank you for the fast response.

[ACY]

I can't give you a definitive answer until you let us know if there will be a reversing loop or not.

[Len]

If you're just using DC operation, you can find basic wiring information here: http://www.modeltrainbuilder.com/track-wiring.html

Bachmann switches have insulated frogs, so your wye should be gapped as shown in that picture.

DCC wyes and reverse loop wiring information can be found here: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/

Len

[ACY]

Len it is theoretically possible not to need any insulation, although not very likely. If the wye just diverges and doesn't feed into a continuous circuit/loop of any sort then no insulation is needed.

[Len]

ACY,

I recognized the name from this thread: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,29320.0.html

He's building a turning wye, which involves the same problems as a reversing loop, so the gaps have to be there.

HODenew,

It's generally considered good form, and usually less confusing, to keep questions related to a specific topic (in these case building a wye) in the same message thread. Then everyone knows what's going on, and doesn't ask for information that's already been given.

Len

[rogertra]

Is this a DC or DCC wye?

Need to know that as the wiring for both is different.

Cheers

Roger T.

[jward]

the determining question here isn't dc or dcc. the rail gaps and in some cases the wiring itself is exactly the same for both.

the important question here is, is the tail track on the wye a dead end, or does it connect back into the mainline somewhere else. if the tail track is a dead end, then I would use an atlas snap relay wired in parallel to the tail switch motor. when you pull into the tail track and throw the switch, the relay will automatically change the polarity. dc or dcc doesn't matter, it is all the same to the relay. the wiring instructions are included with the relay, and this method is about half the cost of an autoreverser

[rogertra]

the determining question here isn't dc or dcc. the rail gaps and in some cases the wiring itself is exactly the same for both.

the important question here is, is the tail track on the wye a dead end, or does it connect back into the mainline somewhere else. if the tail track is a dead end, then I would use an atlas snap relay wired in parallel to the tail switch motor. when you pull into the tail track and throw the switch, the relay will automatically change the polarity. dc or dcc doesn't matter, it is all the same to the relay. the wiring instructions are included with the relay, and this method is about half the cost of an autoreverser

Then again, if the tail track is a dead end, on DC (And DCC, I'm not sure?) a simple DPDT switch can be used to change polarity as I did with my old DC powered GER.

And what happens if, like me, he doesn't use switch motors?  Then the Atlas snap relay isn't much good, or is it?

Cheers

Roger T.

[jward]

op said in his other post he was using 3 ez track wye switches. I think that means they have motors. Bachmann doesn't make a manual wye switch.