[dspender]

I purchased a Tony's Trains PSX-AR for my reverse loop and a Tortoise for the turnout motor. I want to power the Tortoise with the Autoreverser.
1) how do I wire this (I assume wire must run somewhere from the PSX-AR to one of the 8 connection points on the external circuit board points on the Tortoise)
2) how far from the frog end of the turnout should my plastic connections be that double insulate the track in the reverse loop

 

[dozer]

Well, if you just have the PSX-AR and not the PSX-ARFB then you can't power and operate a Tortoise with it. The ARFB has the stationary decoder built in, the AR unit (which is what I have) is strictly a reverser and circuit breaker.

 

[dspender]

My PSX-AR directions instruct me to connect terminal 1 and 2 at J5 up to terminals 1 and 8 on the Tortoise. I confirmed this with DCC specialties on a phone call 1 hour ago.

 

[tankist]

interesting unit - AR module + turnout automation... hmmm. to expensive for my taste though...

with that, Dozer, it seems that DS is right, FB stands for network feedback and all PSX units can operate respective switch machine...

 

[dozer]

My PSX-AR directions instruct me to connect terminal 1 and 2 at J5 up to terminals 1 and 8 on the Tortoise. I confirmed this with DCC specialties on a phone call 1 hour ago.

Ok, let me reiterate. You CAN power up a Tortoise this way, but it wont be automated. You'll still have to run a DPDT switch to the Tortoise.

 

[dozer]

And as far as your question about the plastic insulation joiners ( which don't use, personal preferance is all) I set my gaps up as soon as the engine leaves the switch, in both directions, that way it leaves the biggest loop possible. I'm sure there's other thought processes out there on that though.

 

[dozer]

interesting unit - AR module + turnout automation... hmmm. to expensive for my taste though...

with that, Dozer, it seems that DS is right, FB stands for network feedback and all PSX units can operate respective switch machine...

You're right, FB does stand for feedback, but he doesn't state he has an FB, so I assumed he didn't.

 

[dspender]

Well, I just got off the phone again with DCC Specialties (800-671-0641) technical department and they said run wires from terminals 1 and 2 at the J5 site on the PSX-AR directly to terminals 1 and 8 of the Tortoise, with no DPDT switch, and the Tortoise will automatically activate the switch every time the reverser senses a short and reverses polarity in the track.

 

[dozer]

Well, I just got off the phone again with DCC Specialties (800-671-0641) technical department and they said run wires from terminals 1 and 2 at the J5 site on the PSX-AR directly to terminals 1 and 8 of the Tortoise, with no DPDT switch, and the Tortoise will automatically activate the switch every time the reverser senses a short and reverses polarity in the track.

Sure, but think about it, it will switch ONCE it senses a short, meaning the engine is already in the switch. Any auto reverser will do this hooked up that way but what you're going to have is the engine going to go one way and the train is going to try and go the other.

 

[tankist]

Doser, look at baloon loop pictured in their manual. it triggers as it exits the loop so just before the engine exits the section. next time the engine going to enter the loop it will be via previously selected route -> polarity retained -> system will trigger as its about to exit the other way. all works

 

[dozer]

Doser, look at baloon loop pictured in their manual. it triggers as it exits the loop so just before the engine exits the section. next time the engine going to enter the loop it will be via previously selected route -> polarity retained -> system will trigger as its about to exit the other way. all works

I really don't want to argue, but i'm getting really tired of feeling like everyone else wants to argue so here it goes.

Having an AR in my system, I know exactly how it works. Because of the double gapping, the ar will switch as soon as the engine reaches the first gaps and then as it exits the loop it functions again.

Go ahead, argue away. I'm done putting in my $.02.

 

[tankist]

Dozer, i'm not arguing for the sake of arguing. the particular device is new to me. with that, after reading the manual it is clear that what you are missing is that when train transitions baloon loop, the AR is tripped only once, since it is only once that polarity needs to be changed. the idea to set it up so the polaity transition happens just before train exists the loop , not when it enters. and thats what the device is triggered upon, not entry (since it is not block detection device) but rather polarity change.