Kato double crossing wiring question

[Tyler B]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone would have a wiring diagram for use with a Kato 20-210 double crossover? I want to use it at the end of a double track line in the throat of a 2 track terminus station, so that trains can arrive and depart from either of the 2 terminal tracks, and any other trains in the other platform of the station are isolated. It's a DC operation not DCC.

 

Thanks in advance

[katoftw]

if you need to isolate the trains on the platform, then you'll need to isolate the track at the platform.

 

there isnt much wiring to be explained when it comes to a crossover.  2 lines (doube track).  power from one end to the other.  both 2 lines are isolated from eachother whether the points are activated or not.

Edited February 22, 2015 by katoftw

[kvp]

http://ttrak.wdfiles.com/local--files/kato-s-double-crossover/WX310_025.JPG

 

The Kato double crossovers are isolated in the middle, so you have to add power feeds to all 4 sides of the turnout. The complexity of the wiring depends on the way the mainline is wired. If there are different controllers or at least different polarity on the up and down direction, then you'll have to create a separate block for the station.

 

You have to isolate a part of the mainline before the turnout and use a two pole, two source, single output selection switch to select between the two controllers or use a separate controller (trafo). Then you have to add feeders to all 4 sides with the platform sides controlled by 2 track power on-off switches (or a single on-off-on switch). This way you can select the direction of the turnout (straight or cross over) with one switch, select the direction (arrival-departure) with another (or turn the station's controller to the right direction) and then select which track you want to power.

 

The exact wiring depends on the mainline wiring, the usage of a dedicated staion trafo and if you use original Kato control switches or anything else.

[brill27mcb]

Here's another way: Insulate the end portions of each of the 2 terminal tracks, and then feed power to each one through a diode. When the polarity is correct for a train coming into a station, the diode, being oriented to stop the power, will stop the train in the station when all pickup wheels pass the insulator. When you change the polarity to make the train leave the station, the diode will let that reversed polarity through, and the train will get power.

 

You can see this on my Tomix/Easy-Trolley website, on the "T-Trak for Trolleys" page:

www.trainweb.org/tomix/TT/TT.htm

 

Scroll down to Figure 8. You would do what is shown there on both terminal tracks.

 

If you are running long trains and the location of their pickup wheels vary, you may have a problem with trains stopping in varying places in the station (or hitting the bumper end track!). It is simple and works very well for trolleys and short trains, or trains with uniform location of the pickup wheels along their length. It also stops the train automatically.

 

Rich K.

[kvp]

Imho using diode separated tracks with trains that don't have connected pickups at both ends is rather bad. Most commuter trains have a power car somewhere. This place varies between each set and there are sets with more than one power car. You'll also loose lighting (and headlights) on the portion of the train that is in the station, while the rest of it is still lit up. It looks extremely bad.

 

Imho before we give more conflicting advice, the question about having separate controllers or different polarity on the two mainline tracks should be answered. The amount of wiring that has to be done depends on this.