@Rick posted:I would assume the crossover would isolate each loop, but, what happens when a locomotive crosses from the outer loop to the inner? Especially if it's a long locomotive and would have multiple power pickups?
Thanks,
Rick
All very good advice so far.
One more point however. When you insert the crossover it won't automatically continue the electrical isolation that you have presently have with the two independent loops. You'll need to insert plastic (also called fiber) pins in the center rail between track sections at the appropriate point where they meet, in order to do the job.
This sketch will show you where they should be placed if your crossover is made up of two independent switches:
And, as @KarlDL has mentioned make sure that your two throttles are at about the same position as your train makes its way over those joints fitted with the plastic pins. If you don't your engine's rollers will be connecting the center rails, across the plastic pins, with two different voltages. This will create a momentary short circuit until the train completely passes through. The "strength" of the short circuit depends on how different in position the throttles are. Widely different means a big short, which could trip a breaker or blow a fuse; closely means a very small one, which will go unnoticed.
Mike
