Double Crossover

I would only do the route you are going to. Keep it fun and exciting. If you forget the other route, LOOK OUT.

On my old layout I found it better to use 1 button ( SC-2) and throw them all at once.

I throw all at once. If (for example) I switch from the outer to inner loop and forget to reset the switches, the next time around the train goes inner to outer. I use DZ1000s with DZ1002 buttons paralleled to 4 channels on my AIU. 

does one DZ 1002 have enough electrical fortitude ( hows that for a technical term ) to throw all four DZ 1000s at once, or is that too much of a load for the DZ1002 ?

hclark6345 posted:

does one DZ 1002 have enough electrical fortitude ( how that for a technical term ) to throw all four DZ 1000s at once, or is that too much of a load for the DZ1002 ?

I have wired this in pairs with no problems. If you want a minimalist strategy, perhaps use two DZ1002s. The coils are rated in mA, so if you want to use one to switch four, my answer is "probably".

Thank you. I will try the one to switch four.

one for 4 is not recommended by DZ himself. you need two according to the designer of these controllers and switch machines.

My logic was to switch only two at time. The opposite of Gilly's thought - once the train changed loops if I forgot to switch the pair back to thru the non-derail would switch them and keep the train on the new route.

2 buttons - one for each pair

I operate multiple trains and would clear a loop and bring one on while the other moved to the first trains' loop. 

I used routes with Legacy and an SC-2 to control the switches. The switches can also be thrown individually. 

I had no buttons or levers. 

A DZ-2500 machine would be used for Legacy with a DZ-2001 data wire driver or the DZ-1000 switch machine with an SC-2 or ASC-2

how do you wire the double crossover for non-derail ? J am running conventional

I am not sure about switching all four turnouts at the same time so can't comment other than I wire two together and the middle for power depending on which way the turnouts go. This is probably not possible for switching all four at one time.

The dwarf signals can can slaved to the turnout position with DZ1008 relays or even Atlas O 200 snap relays. I have been drifting towards the snap relay based on experience with the 1008's burning out due to a voltage spike on a CW80 ACC tap on turn on. The spike was measured on 2 different transformers at over 35 volts. The 1008 is good up to about 25 volts. The Atlas O relay is electro-mechanical so immune to the spike. A simple 'surge protector' will of course take care of this issue. For now I have all 1008's connected to the handle of the CW80 so I can bring up the voltage in a controlled manner.

As for non derail it is really simple to wire in. See attached  for a starting position.

thank you to all that commented i got my question  answered  

Non-derailing does not make sense with a double crossover; unless the train is on the switch when the switch is thrown.

As the train enters the switch from either of the 4 entry points the switch is either straight thru or cross-over-ed. So it cant derail.

Don't waste tile with non-derailing.  I just tied back the green and yellow wires on each of the 4 DZ-2500s. 

I use half of my Fastrack double crossover as a reversing loop sometimes, using the flawless non derailing feature so that each reversing trip is opposite, i.e. clockwise one time, counterclockwise the next, with no manual intervention. I couldn't do that with switches wired in pairs.