Need help with Auto Reverse Module for Trolley

Which trolley do you have?

Many are only one direction or bump and go and do not have an electronic reverse unit for three rail versions.

Which track are you using?

Do you have insulation pins or connectors for it?

First off, I am not running 3-rails. I have HO and joined this O group because this was the only place I found that people seemed to understand the module on the posts I saw. My trolley works fine on the regular layout track, forward and reverse. I have the four places the instructions say to isolate joined with plastic insulated joiners. I've only isolated these places on the inside rail, not the common rail and I've done all the work at joints, have not cut any rail. So from left to right on the inside rail I have a plastic joiner, then just before the first gap I've attached a wire going to terminal 7 on the module, then another isolator joiner with a diode bridging  the gap, then it comes to the reverse end and I have an isolated join bridged by a diode (both diode bands facing the same direction, and I've tried it in both directions),  another wire up to terminal #7 just after the gap and lastly another isolator joiner. I have power wires from the transformer connected to terminal #1&2 and I have a wire from the jumper on terminal 11-12 that goes to the common rail at the very right end of the track, after all the work is done. When I turn the power on, I hear the module clicking so I know it has power, but nothing happens at the train

The isolated joiners at the very beginning and the very end bother me, but that's the way I read the instructions. That being said, I did try it without the unbridged isolators at the beginning and the end.  Any ideas?

H.O. runs on DC current, the one in the PDF is for AC.  AC will not operate a DC motor..

Marty

Be curious what thos two large rectifier blocks are used for in circuit.  Appears that Marty is right that its AC, though without seeing baord and tracing circuit, it might be possible to run on DC (note I said MIGHT be possible as it looks like the 13-20 VAC is rectified and stepped down to 5, 8 or 12VDC to run the timer, optoisolator and relay and most likely not interconnected at all with the AC train wiring)

My guess is when trolley touches Trigger the optoisolator turns on triggering the timer that makes relay open the REVERSE track circuit.  After timeout, relay closes restoring track power to REVERSE section.  Not sure how they hold off timer from re triggering when wheels touch TRIGGER section again as it leaves section.

I'm not sure that the module that you've got there is intended for HO operation. I think it mentions AC and requires E-unit reversing solenoids.

HO runs on DC and reversing is accomplished by changing the polarity of the power on the track. There are no E-units.

This could explain why you've had such a hard time finding anything about it other than on the O gauge forums.

Well shoot, guys. Everything you've all said makes perfect sense. Which means I have an auto-reverse module for sale if anyone is interested. Rats rats rats. This is my first ever layout. I'm 70 years old and just started in December and the learning curve is HUGE! Thanks for all the input, guess I'll have to spring for one of the more expensive units from Bachmann or Walthers. 

Cathy C posted:

Well shoot, guys. Everything you've all said makes perfect sense. Which means I have an auto-reverse module for sale if anyone is interested. Rats rats rats. This is my first ever layout. I'm 70 years old and just started in December and the learning curve is HUGE! Thanks for all the input, guess I'll have to spring for one of the more expensive units from Bachmann or Walthers. 

Well, I see that you didn't recognize that the difference. There are two other sources, Dallee Electronics  -Automatic back and forth and Azatrax - continuous back and forth - that have systems that will work with DC. it's actually easier working with 2-rail DC for detection and control.

I don't know if you discovered that there is  HONGZ forum here, which for is for HO, N, G and Z scales. Many hobgyists run multiple scales. You can get some suggestions there.

(clickety-click on the blue links)

Put your item in as a listing in the FOR SALE forum here.

Good luck!

PS.  as you can see, folks will try to help with anything model train here

Troll ebay, pocono did make a dc version, they appear from time to time.  You had the right directions.