@AmFlyer posted:Ken, my layout has a hidden staging yard/reverse loop under the layout that looks just like your red plus blue track. Mine is wired such that the reverse loop segment, your blue track, would end at the point end of the upper RH turnout. I am not sure if four PSX-AR-AC's are necessary but what you drew should work. My concern is there are two reverse loops touching each other and I am not sure how the controllers will react.
I would first try combining the red and yellow and connecting that to the transformer. Connect the green through a reverser board and the blue through another reverser board. I think that works.
The advantage of the way I first suggested with the entire "X" as a reverse loop is that you can operate engines to move cars on and off the sidings without constantly triggering the controllers. When the pilot wheels move across that insulated junction there is a pretty big spark when the board is triggered. Not like the HO DCC system. 10A from a ZW-L channel can make a big spark, that is one reason why the AC version of these boards have such a big heat sink on them.
I have 5 PSX-AR-AC's on my layout and after four years one just failed. It is the one that powers the points/diamond in a 22.5deg mainline crossing. It is frequently activated because of the crossing location in the track plan. I have two new ones in the mail to me from Tony's Trains, a replacement and a spare. It is unusual for these to fail so I have someone who will look at the failed board to see what happened.
Many thanks for your help, Tom, I appreciate your experience and insight!
So, is this idea worthwhile to allow trailing-point switching of the spurs without tripping the automatic reverse units?
I divided the top green/black straight section in half, thinking either side might need a place to set out a car or two while interchanging with the spurs. The little curving tail past the spur's turnouts on each block, might allow a car or lighted caboose to be set out there, at 9.5".
The bottom green/black straight I assigned it all to the green block, in case a locomotive working the green spur with a short train needs some length to move a train back and forth while switching. The black block has the length on grade running up to the elevated that gives it more length/space to work with.
