Can anybody direct me to a wiring diagram for a WYE?
Thank you.
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Here's the RCS diagram for their manual turnouts, I would think it would be the same for a Wye, but I don't recall having to wire my 054 Wye that I had:
Bob, I am not concerned about a single turnout, I am asking about the WYE track configuration. See below.
I would think that using 3-rail track there might not be all the concerns that there are with 2-rail. But since I have never done it, I wanted to be safe and ask the experts on the forum.
If your turnouts are with non derailing features, you wire your switch machines as you normally would do. If they do have that feature, you can cut the track and make non derailing. That would be the simplest method.
You can have one button move two turnouts at a time. One on the mainline and the other at the wye. Either way, with the non derailing in effect, the train will go through.
Is this understandable?
Your comment on HO wiring problems says it all. There are no problems in wiring a basic Y. That is why three rail was invented so long ago. With the hot or "+" for dc folks, in the center at all times, the problem of polarity movement and shorting on reverse loops is eliminated.
For the pure three rail operators who are not aware of a two rail system, a brief explanation is in order. A straight run in to a reverse loop on two rail involves two double pole double throw switches and insulators on the tracks, both rails after the turnout. As the loco is approaching the turnout for the loop, the dpdt switch for the loop track must be thrown to corespond with the direction of travel on the straight. Once the loco enters the loop, the dpdt switch for the straight must be thrown for the new direction of travel.
On the Y in question, the operator would have no less than 6 dpdt switches to contend with to bring the loco back to where it started, one for each leg of the Y and one for each side of the triangle of the Y. This kind of wiring severely limited the amount of play value for kids with early trains on two rail.
This is why three rail was invented. You simply hook up the hot or "+" to the center rail and the other to the outside.
And you enjoy complex layouts with reverse loops and "Y's".
Non derailing wiring was not considered in this discussion because it doesn't effect the basic three rail wiring anyway.
Jim,
Other than making sure the current is getting where it should, there's no special wiring for a Wye in O scale 3-rail if you're using AC. At least I don't have any special wiring on mine:
