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I have two loops on my lay out that I have been running separately, one powered thru channel fixed one and the other thru channel 2 fixed. Now I have put in switches so I can run trains switching between the inner and outer loop. Is it safe to leave the feed from fixed 1 and fixed 2 connected? I am worried that it could possibly backfeed between the two channels and hurt the TIU. For what its worth I feed each channel from separate sides of a ZW transformer.

I think I am worrying to much but with the scarcity of reasonable TIUs I don't want to hurt anything.

Thanks

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I am new to this whole thing so I am attaching a picture to see if you can tell me exactly where to isolate the center rail. I originally ran both loops on one channel but now I have a couple of ABA units with 2 motors in each A unit so that puts 8 motors running at the same time so I feel that I need to separate the loops and feed each one separately, do you agree?

Thank you for your help!

IMG_0376

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  • IMG_0376

You want to isolate both diverging routes of your turnouts. Basically insulate the center rails of the 2 curved crossovers. Right where the turnouts meet up.

As far as rollers bridging both routes when crossing over. Yes that is going to happen. As long as both power supplies are phased [which yours are] and both putting out more voltage than the train is seeing. No issues.

Last edited by Dave_C

Before you start cutting up track. Hopefully someone will chime in on how Fastrack switches are powered up. I don’t run Fastrack. If you can run your train from one loop to the other than the diverging routes are powered through the switch and  not isolated. You can also check it all out with a meter. It’s only the center rail you have to worry about.

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