I am deciding how I want to set up my layouts automation. I understand EPL but really don’t want to run the mess of wires to do what I want to do. The costs of the decoders will actually be less than buying more wire and control boxes.
I plan to normally run two trains on one loop in opposite directions with one train pulling into the station and releasing the other train. But, I want to know if I can easily turn off the automation and just run one train roundy-round non-stop if I don’t feel like pulling out two trains, or if I am having issues with one of the circuits, etc…
So, can the switch decoder be set to ignore the input? I know the decoder will throw the points when the input is triggered (LGB 17100 reed contact in my case). I know I can have the DCC controller throw the points manually, even if the decoder is connected to the input/reed contact. But can I tell it to ignore the reed sensor indefinitely so that the points will not be thrown when the train passes the reed contact, until I tell it differently?