I have now cut out my original power bus and am rewiring to allow block detection using the usual Digitrax components.

However, a friend mentioned the inclusion of turnouts when designing blocks.


I had not intended to do this and looking at my evaluation copy of TC Silver, it doesn't seem feasible.


Do any of you guys include turnouts within their own blocks?  Any advice is welcome.


Regards Charlie

Mr Freiwald himself has strong views on the subject - "don't include turnouts in blocks" is what he frequently posts in his forum. I agree with that and don't include turnouts in any blocks.

The problem is that where would the stop markers be? They could vary depending on which route the train took into the block.

Thanks Robert,
Excuse the pun, point taken!
Regards Charlie

Interesting question and well timed. My knowledge of RR & Co is very limited indeed but in looking at the very same subject of late it would appear that points should not be include within blocks.

Cheers

Toto

I agree

I inadvertently included a turnout in a block ( and never got round to changing it) and the world did not actually stop rotating………however it is not something I would recommend …….the TC detection system has enough to cope with

Like John - I did it once on my first RR&Co layout. Not recommended

However where I have had  multiple points - at the entrance to the fiddle yard - I insulate them and set up with their own Contact Indicator  which is associated with its own detector so that I can include the points in any condition statements. That way  a small engine running light does not get lost by the system while crossing the points.

Good point Dave…….I always worry how TC copes with a long fan of points…….it works……but I am often tempted to add a belt to the braces

An analogy that wouldn't work here…..suspenders doesn't have quite the same tone as braces

A good point about the fan of turnouts as I have a couple of situations that would disappear of the radar as well in those circumstances. I'm not at that stage yet but separate detection in these places would be the way to go.

Toto

You don't need to worry that a train is "off the radar" - ie there is no occupancy detector lit up for it. TC will not have lost track of it. If a train is scheduled to run from block A through a fan of turnouts to block B, then until the train is detected as having reached the stop marker in B, block A and the relevant turnouts will remain locked.

With care and planning it is possible to make plain track and a point connected to it at the toe of the point into one detected section.  There are very few reasons to do it and it is usually better to keep points out of blocks, but sometimes it can save the cost of an extra detector.

I have read in various places that the general thought is to not place the points into blocks whether that is using RR&Co or other systems. My Bus from the command stations is fed under the layout then split into 2. First I have a track power bus that also splits into 2 and feeds into my PM42's which then feed my BDL168's for the blocks with the second feeding the turnout rails. This means my turnouts use 6 IRJ's to fully isolate them. The secondary initial bus split feeds accessories so my cobalts currently and then in the future any lighting and other fancy features I add. 
Who says DCC is easier to wire than DC…:twisted:

[user=1763]Vonk[/user] wrote:

Who says DCC is easier to wire than DC…:twisted:

Not when it comes to computer control - but its worth it :thumbs