Kato Double Crossover cat. #20-210

w3fh2000
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I have a small oval and a rather large modified dogbone which come close to each other and run parallel for several feet.  Each track will be operated from a separate power supply.  At this point in time I am not running DDC.  I am planning on installing four (4) Kato #6 turnouts such that the trains will be able to go from the loop to the dogbone and vice versa.  Since I am running two power supplys I will be installing isolation joints between the switches.  With this arrangement when a train crosses from one track to the other it will be momentarily bridging between two power sources.  Could this be a problem?

Also I thought that I had a brilliant idea earlier this evening.  I thought that I could save a lot of money by installing a Kato Double Crossover instead of four switches.  I do not know how these are arranged electrically, but I am assuming that both parallel sections are electrically connected.  If so is there an easy way to isolate one track from the other?

 

Thanx,

 

Fred - W3FH2000


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Don't take life too seriously.  You'll never get out of it alive.


Bryan
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Crossing over on a dog-bone

Crossing over on a dog-bone will form a reverse loop(s), and need to be wired appropriately...

 


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Bryan




AGrant
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Joined: 2007-08-19
Have a Double Crossover
As you might expect, Bryan is exactly correct. I installed a double crossover and had a wiring nightmare until I realized, as Bryan notes, I had two reverse loops!


taz-n-rr
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w3fh2000 Are you

w3fh2000
 
Are you connecting the small oval to the large dog-bone, or connecting the large dog-bone to itself (chris-crossing the dog-bone)?
 
If you are not chris-crossing the dog-bone, then maybe you are avoiding the reverse loop problem.  I don't know anything about how the sections of the Kato crossover are isolated.  Though it would seem that it might have the parallel tracks isolated, at least when switched for straight.  Without reverse loops, you just have two blocks you are controlling, one the oval, the other the dog-bone.  I would use something like the Atlas selector switch controls to switch these two blocks between the two controllers.  I would not have the train going between blocks with different controllers operating.  But to wire it up, you need info from someone who knows more about the Kato crossover.
 
Charles




Bryan
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A diagram of your trackage,
A diagram of your trackage, and where you plan putting the crossover will help us picture what you plan doing, and allow us to more accurately point out potential issues (and resolutions).
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Bryan




MICROCZEK
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Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-03-06
KATO double crossover

HI   Kato's documentation leaves a lot to be desired!

That said.

The double crossover is totally isolated.  that is all four legs if the crossover are independant of each other.

the greatest advantage of this is that 2 trains can cross it [ in the straight setting ] at the same time at different speeds and different directions. 

A GREAT SAVING OF SPACE.  Great for tiny layouts.

 Joe




Conducter1
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Joined: 2006-10-22
There is a Kato forum on
There is a Kato forum on Yahoo. I think you go to Yahoo and type in Katounitrack to get you there. Thats all they talk about is Kato Unitrack.. Hope this helps. Like they said I'd use an Atlas controller with Atlas selecters. If not sure how to wire I'd recommend buying a wiring book, there are alot of good one out there..


BryanC
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Wiring Unitrack Books
Conducter1 wrote:
... If not sure how to wire I'd recommend buying a wiring book, there are alot of good one out there..
Do you have an example?
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Cheers!

Bryan C
Alligator Lines "The Eclectic Line of the South"

http://ALines.home.att.net




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