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Model Railway Electrics - Isolating Circuit
Isolating Track Section
The standard controller relies on isolation
sections of track, to isolate locomotives which you don’t wish to move. The
easiest way to create an isolated section is with points. When you close
points you also break the power connection to one of the tracks and thus to
any locomotives in that section of track.
The second way to create an isolated section
is to separate the track and use a switch to control the power crossing from
one side to the other. Hornby produce an isolation piece of track, but it is
much cheaper to just separate a track section by 1mm and then wire up a
switch to carry the power across. The circuit diagram for this is pictured
below. Although you only need to break the connection on one rail if for
example you need an isolated section in a siding) I have illustrated
breaking both connections which would be required if you are building a
return loop and don’t know which rail the break.
Note: - if a loco, wagon, or
carriage with metal wheels sits directly on the gap, this can allow the
power to cross.
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