lego train 12v, will this tracks layout shortcircuit?

[pilgrim]

hello lego friends,

i just made this layout on bluebrick,

i only have 32 straight rail couples, so this is the biggest track i can get (i only use 30 because one or two will probably break because of old age)

this should work right? it shouldn't shortcircuit or anything?

thanks! can't wait to start building ^__^

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by pilgrim

[pilgrim]

by the way, does anyone know what this is (i have only one of them)

 

 

[Andy Glascott]

That will work fine, and the extra bit on the curved rail you show is supposed to reduce interference with other devices such as radios etc but I've never had a problem with interference whether I used those rails or not.

 

[pilgrim]

4 hours ago, Andy Glascott said:

That will work fine, and the extra bit on the curved rail you show is supposed to reduce interference with other devices such as radios etc but I've never had a problem with interference whether I used those rails or not.

 

thank you so much Andy!

[Breakdown]

On 7/10/2019 at 9:55 AM, pilgrim said:

hello lego friends,

i just made this layout on bluebrick,

i only have 32 straight rail couples, so this is the biggest track i can get (i only use 30 because one or two will probably break because of old age)

this should work right? it shouldn't shortcircuit or anything?

thanks! can't wait to start building ^__^

 

 

Short circuit question - so that you or no others have to ask again.

 

You made a big layout.  Determine a direction.  Like far left side of track and up.  Trace your finger through the track, use all of the switches.  Did you ever reverse your direction??  If yes = layout will not work.  If no = you are fine.

 

Examples of simple short circuits. 

 

1.)    "P loop"  You have a straight track, you go up to the top, you turn right sharp and at the bottom merge with the same straight track via track point.  (If you have a crossing at the bottom of the P where you simply cross the track you are fine).

 

2.)   "Slurve" inside an oval  You can have 'C' with switches on both ends leading back to the oval, no problem.  You CANNOT have an 'S' curve inside the same loop, because the train will change directions again.

 

3.)  "Figure 8 with bypass" - You cannot have a figure 8 track and have a bypass on the side (unless it's not powered) a bypass would be two points connecting the same side of the figure 8.

 

All of these limitations are the same with 9V and all of these limitations can be avoided universally by using Power Functions, 4.5V or Powered up.

[dunnowhattoputhere]

Same shortcircuit question, Im gonna do single track with a passingloop, will my trains beable to use it if one is going one direction and the other one a different direction?

[Murdoch17]

1 hour ago, dunnowhattoputhere said:

Same shortcircuit question, Im gonna do single track with a passingloop, will my trains beable to use it if one is going one direction and the other one a different direction?

AFAIK, all trains will have to travel the same direction and loops are impossible per the post directly above yours @dunnowhattoputhere.  So no, that idea of yours won't work. This isn't like battery trains with remote control allowing for multiple trains to run on the same track - the 12v (9v is the same way) controller is attached to the track so all train on that track go the same way at the same speed, unless power is turned totally off or the train is stationary in an isolated siding.

Edited 4 hours ago by Murdoch17

[Toastie]

On 7/10/2019 at 6:36 PM, Andy Glascott said:

with other devices such as radios etc

of the good'ol days, right? Back in 12V world, we were listening to long, medium, and short wave radio. On LW/AM, badly maintained 12V trains, trailed by sparks flying all over the layout (OK, that's a bit exaggerated ) seriously jammed reception.

Best
Thorsten

1 hour ago, dunnowhattoputhere said:

will my trains beable to use it if one is going one direction and the other one a different direction

Does this translate to one train moves "forward" in the direction - let's call it left - when applying + voltage to the rails, whereas the other train does move right upon the same voltage (i.e., the plugs on your 12V train motors are reversed)? If so, the passing loop should work. I believe ...

Best
Thorsten  

[L-Gauger]

2 hours ago, dunnowhattoputhere said:

Same shortcircuit question, Im gonna do single track with a passingloop, will my trains beable to use it if one is going one direction and the other one a different direction?

Assuming you're using track power (which I will call "DC" from now on like conventional model railroaders do):  

- A passing siding, consisting of two parallel tracks connected by a turnout (switch) at each end, will not short out in a DC system. 

- A reversing loop, consisting of one track that returns back over itself, will short circuit in a DC system unless you have gaps in the conductive rails. A reversing loop is usually shaped vaguely like a balloon or teardrop, with the diverging paths of a single turnout at the apex of the teardrop shape. 

- Which way your locomotives are facing does not matter with a DC system. Two locomotives coupled back-to-back will run the same absolute direction, one forward and one backward, when DC power is applied to the track. If you want to only control one train at a time, you'll have to investigate DC block control wiring for your layout. 

If you're using 4.5V, R/C, PF, and PUP trains exclusively (no 12V or 9V,) then the track doesn't need to be powered and you can set up your tracks any way you like without worries. 

Does that help?