I am planning a video to help explain the DR5013.? I hope to have this done with in a couple of weeks.? I have to build a new diorama since I don't have a true loop on my layout.??
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I'll start by explaining what the "Short Circuit Free" auto reverser does.? A normal auto reverser will detect a short on the track and then reverse the polarity at the rails.? The DR5013 uses the sensors to detect an approaching train and reverses the polarity before the train actually reaches the reversing section (TRACK) on P27 in the manual.? Let's all turn there now.? ?
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In normal operations that red track connection from the DR5000 that goes to the DR4088LN, DR5013 and the turnout would not go to the turnout, just the other two.? So, pretend that connection is not there.? The red line from the turnout would actually go to one of the outputs on the DR4088LN.? If we really want to get technical then there would be a gap in the lower rail on the left side of the turnout and then another red wire going to another output of the DR4088LN. (The turnout should be in its own block)? If you don't understand this part don't worry, let's move on.
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Now look at the Gaps.? The approach, turnout and S0 & S3 are gapped only at the lower rail.? Thus, the upper rail is your common.? These upper rails don’t need gapped.? (Wired like standard block detection)? S0 & S3 are what tells the TRACK which includes S1 & S2 to switch polarity.? Look closely at S1, TRACK & S2.? S1 & S2 are only double gapped between S0 & S3 and only single gapped next to the TRACK.? ?Therefore an approaching train that hits either S0 or S3 triggers the polarity reversal of TRACK, S1 & S2 thus creating a Short Circuit Free polarity reversal.? Neither the engine nor the track ever sees a short!
When leaving the loop, the S1 & S2 now do the same thing as S0 and S3 did when entering the loop.? When the engine gets to S1 or S2 on exiting the Loop (which is S1, TRACK & S2) the polarity changes before the engine reaches S0 or S3 thereby again matching the polarity of S0 or S3 and creates a Short Circuit Free exit.? ? That is why you need 4 Sensor Sections.??
Recap:? S0 & S3 set the polarity of the loop based upon which track the train is entering the loop.? S1 & S2 set the polity of the loop based on which track the train is exiting the loop.? S1 & S2 also set the turnout based on which track the train is exiting the loop.? S0 & S3 are just part of your normal block detection where as S1, TRACK & S2 are part of the reversing section and share the inner rail as their common.??
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Once you understand this, when you look at the manual the rest should start to make more sense.
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You can test everything using the Commissioning Instructions found here: https://support.digikeijs.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001806418-DR5013-Manuals-Downloads
Just remember, don’t have any other device connected via USB to the PC when testing unless you have a USB Isolator installed.??
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