Reply to "Station siding electrical question"

Hi all

The station siding solution that Dale H has IDd is attractive to me.  Let me explain.

I constructed the track layout and placed all the accessories, etc before I understood about the need/use of isolated rails - like I really know now, Ha Ha. Actually, to do what I want, most of the layout would have to be isolated rails. So I opted for no isolated rails and jumped into the IR cart. I use IRs to operate signals and some accessories.

I have quite a number of them from different manufacturers. Zstuff 1011, Lionel 153IR MTH ItADs and one called MrMax. I'm sure there are other manufacturers as well. These all tout the ability to accomplish the things I want to do. They seem to perform well, though my layout is not 100% operational in terms of running trains to all levels and track sections - more like 45%.

Zstuff includes application drawings on their site to do wiring, using their own brand of relay for a siding and collision avoidance applications. The lionel includes its IR and relay as a unit, but doesn't include instructions for applications other than operating accessories - basically you are left on your own. MrMax suggests several on their website. MTH's is similar to Lionels.

The Zstuff 1011 relay comes wired, by color. One of the big problems is this wiring, since the unit is proprietary, it isn't clear what wire does what. Eg, the yellow wire never seems to be used in any application, the blue wire is labeled COM, but half the time in the application drawings it gets connected to power, Red/Green always are joined and go to power or common depending which accessory it is trying to operate. Some of the drawings are missing components referred to in the instructions and notes. It seems like this relay has to be customized to each application, with the email advice from Dennis - and sometimes he suggests a trial and error solution.  

The lionel product doesn't have any applications similar to the Zstuff listed in its manual. Mr.Max will talk thru them on the telephone, but his products are pricey - they actually use a two component send/receive IR and even under track sensor item. 

I'll probably implement the Zstuff collision avoidance solution on some crossovers in my layout. The station siding solution that is being discussed here will need time to percolate, but it may be the way I go.

Ralph