Hello "lperalta",

If you expect more people to see your post and reply, then please move it to the "general" topic and not in this "Events, forum member meers, exhibiotn & TV shows" topic.

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Hi Lionel

The conventional way to make detection zones using C Track is exactly as you say:
- just cutting 2 contact bridges under each rail of the section and isolate each extremity with one red isolator sleeve 74030.
- the insulated section is connected to an M88 (60881 or 60883) for forwarding the occupation to the CS3, CS2, etc
- this is the best way and it is reversible (you may re-connect the bridges to use rails as normal one

Where to install the detection zones?
- when using a CS3 / CS2 alone then you must have signals / relays commanding stop sections. In this case you may have one section after (downstream) the signal which will command the signal to green or red depending on the occupation.
- when using a CS3 /CS2 in combination with Rocrail or equivanet, you don't need any stop / insulated sections, nor any brake module. In this case, most of the time I use 2 detection zones per block (1) to slow down the train from route speed to station / approach speed and (2) to command the smooth stop . The bid difference is Rocrail (or equivalent) knows where is each train and so can issue slow down or stop orders to specific locos

Length of contact tracks
- it is true that using one rail for occupation detection works well when rails and wheels are clean but sometimes may cause some short locos to stop because of ground return issues.
- on the other hand, having a full zone protected by a signal provides an excellent security
- so I have detections where it is needed and in a typical block, the last 20 cm ahead of the signal are for smooth stopping and the rest of the block (1 m to 2 m) for the slow-down section
- I avoided making contact tracks with C-track turnouts (this is perfectly possible) by reluctance of the extra work and surgery

Here is a small video on Rocrail / CS3 operation with occupancy block

Cheers
Jean

Hi
Of course I got confused and I mean to use 60881 and 60883 and not those old 6088 and 60880 with their unreliable flat cable (bad contacts and sensitivity to electrical noise).
Even when belonging to the same block, the slow-down andf stop sections needs be independant
Will the center pieces remain intact?
When using only a CS3+ without any s/w control then you may have the central rails intact. It reduces the security but improves the current pick-up

Cheers
Jean

Thanks Peder.... I understand your advice. I am using CS3+. My question now is> Let´s suposse I use the outside rail as detection rail. 1.
Should I isolate the preceding track of the block on the last one as well?. 2. When you say you use three detection places, do you mean you make 3 contact tracks each one of them connected to the S88???, using 3 ports of the S88???. 3. What do you see in the screen... 3 contact tracks activated or each contact track activates when the wheels enter the contact track???. Thanks. Lionel

Hi Lionel
Here is a section of C Tracks as seen from underneath.
- The three center track pieces are isolated (the 2 bridges on each section are cut)
- the top rail on the picture is selected to be the isolated one so at each of its extremity, a 74030 inslator is inserted in the contact shoes
- the insulated rail section is connected to the S88 (60881) occupancy detector


Cheers
Jean

Hi
If you use events in CS3 you can use one short detection track in each end of the blocks and one in the middle (each connected to an s88 contact) you can use these as triggers for speed canges. Slow down at entering a block, slow to creep at mid sensor and stop at end block. If acceleration and decelleration are properly set for the loco this will provide perfect slow down/ stop at a station…. Same trick in next block to provide creep start out from station and further speed increase at next detection(this can also be obtained using to speed commands after each orher in the event(with a suitable time delay between the first and second) no braking module or signals required. For train stop from creep to standstill entering a station i often use the switch direction command. This overide the decelleration delay, train stops from creep with a small jerk… not uncommon I think… also it will stop at exact same spot each time.
For occupancy of blocks I use a virtual contact in cs3(no connection to S88 needed) there is one virtual contact for each block. When writing the event the event is set to check for required blocks to be un occupied(then set them to occupied) for the trains own use… then set train speed. When entering the sensor in next block(ex middle one if train is short enough to have cleared previous block) the event set the previous block to un occupied and available for other events(trains) vaiting for free blocks….
Regards Thor

Great thread. Fyi, M track users need dedicated feedback track pieces or make their own. The latter is a bit more involved than the simple 'snips' of C track.
Ben