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I'd just wire the TT to a switch that switches between the conventional and command power sources.  The actual tracks inside the roundhouse would be dedicated to a particular type, or they could be individually switched between the two if you wanted flexibility in using each bay for command or conventional.

 

I don't see any particular issue with running both using one TT.

 

Obviously, the track(s) coming up to the TT will have to reflect your operating mode, are you having a single track coming in, or two?

 

You say it CAN be wired, my question is HOW? Dale H posted some stuff about relays, but not enough to get me through this. Again, I will be running PW Lionel and modern MTH ps3.0 on separate loops going into the Atlas turntable (3-rail #6910), and then into the roundhouse. I would like to get them across the turntable and into their garage, and than be able to bring  them back on the main line. What kind of relays? What kind of toggles? Where do I connect the wires? Too many questions- I am not the smartest kid on the block, but I am willing to learn.  Thank you all.

Let me suggest one possible solution that will keep it relatively simple:

 

1.  Forget about relays.

 

2.  Use DPDT (double pole, double throw) center off toggle switches.  There are six terminals on the bottom of the toggle switch.  First set up a uniform standard for all your toggle switches:  Top three terminals for center rail, bottom three terminals for outside rails.  Two left side terminals to conventional power source.  Two right side terminals to DCS or PS3.0 power source.  Center two terminals to track.  

 

3.  Use a toggle switch for each "garage" or roundhouse track and another toggle switch for the turntable bridge.

 

4.  Flipping each toggle switch in one direction will connect the track to which it is wired to the conventional power source, flipping it in the other direction will connect it to the DCS or PS 3.0 power source.  Moving it to the center will stop power from either source from reaching the track.

 

Hope this helps.   

DPDT

 

To help clarify:

 

Terminals A, C, and E are for center rail power and connections.

 

Terminals B, D, and F are for outer rail power and connections

 

Terminals A and B are connected to conventional power source

 

Terminals C and D are connected to track

 

Terminals E and F are connected to DCS/PS3.0 power source. 

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  • DPDT

Well, phasing is an issue anyway, because if they're phased wrong, when you crossover you could have a problem.  I'd be much more inclined to make SURE they are phased properly than to depend on never having a switch in the wrong position and driving onto the TT or into the engine house. Having rails not phased is an invitation to disaster!  No reason to switch more than you have to, you're also introducing more connections and more possibility for problems down the road.

 

The common outside rail isn't a problem for DCS, or all the folks like me running TMCC with DCS would be pulling our hair out.

 

There are two places where phasing matters.  One is at the terminals to the track (the A and U terminals or equivalent) and the other is at the plug into the house current.  The plug into the house current is the usual source of problems although with polarized plugs the problem is less likely now than before polarized plugs.

 

If you do have two totally separate loops it would not be an issue.  CORRECTION:  Would be an issue at the turntable where the potential would exist for serious problems.  Please see my post below.

 

As GRJ wrote, you could go to Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) toggle switches connected only to the center rail as long as your power sources are in phase and the outside rails form the common rail for electrical purposes.   

Last edited by PGentieu

After corresponding with GRJ, he got me to realize I should not have discounted the importance of phasing as there is the potential for serious damage to electrical and electronic components if a locomotive crossed between two tracks that are out of phase with each other.

 

Recommend using this thread: https://ogrforum.com/t...sing-on-transformers, note especially the link to the tutorial at the end.

 

 

SO, WOULD IT BE BETTER AND SAFER, TO USE THE DOUBLE POLE SWITCH, AND SWITCH BOTH RAILS, AS OPPOSED TO USING A SINGLE POLE SWITCH AND SWITCHING ONLY  THE CENTER RAIL?

No, it would not be better.  

 

GRJ's solution is better than what I originally suggested.

 

A SPDT center-off toggle switch is like the picture above but with terminals B, D, and F missing.  So all you have to do is wire terminals A, C, and E.  

 

Basically, the outside rails are unswitched; they have a constant and common return to the ground terminal of both transformers or power sources (usually the U terminal on Lionel transformers and color coded black terminal on some MTH transformers).

 

I think GRJ is making your life easier here. 

 

Just one more thing I want to emphasize: make sure you get center-off toggle switches or you will have big problems with your conventional locomotives on their roundhouse tracks.  As it is, you will need to be very careful about using the toggle switches because if you have a conventional locomotive on a track and you move the toggle switch for that track to DCS/PS3.0, the locomotive is going to take off like a bat out of you-know-where.

Last edited by PGentieu

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