I've had terrible luck with RealTrax turnouts. So bad, that I wish I hadn't overbought RealTrax and locked myself in, financially.
I won't go through the litany, I will just stick to my current Christmas layout issue. I run 2 Wyes, to create a siding. They are powered by track power on DCS, this year. I use 1 throw. They are about 8 feet apart and I use telephone wire to send the throw signal to the far Wye. Both Wyes and the surrounding 1 foot (ish) on either side are supported by paneling, over a very tightly woven carpet. The near Wye has burned out somehow (it will only throw in one direction). I believe it is in the track, because the solenoid and throw work on another turnout.
To the point:
1) Reading Barry's Companion, I will switch to a separate transformer, for switch power.
2) I don't want to be a switch tweaker. I want to play with my toys at Christmas time.
If I buy another Wye, secure both Wyes paneling , so that it supports the Wye, the switch and 10 - 15" track on either side of the switch, and buy an AIU, to throw the switches, what are my chances that I will get hassle free function? Each Christmas, I post my turnout woes and some say all are great, some say they have to tweak many switches, some have worse luck, than I do.
If I redesign the layout to give me another loop and skip the siding, I will re-re design it to allow a turnoff, to "park" an extra loco.
So, I am looking for the best way to enjoy turnouts on a Christmas carpet layout.
