Marx Turnouts and Non-Derail Throws E-Unit

[Stolidedog]

I’m new to this hobby.  What started out as buying something old and simple for my son and daughter to play with has turned out to be a major project for me.  

I have a O-27 layout consisting of four remote Marx turnouts (two left, two right).  I’ve followed YouTube and on-line instructions on how to add non-derail feature to these turnouts.  I do not use insulating pins and rail, instead I put an inch or so of black electrical tape on the rail and then thin copper tape over that with a wire soldered to it and connected to the left or right terminal depending.  This works the same as a full insulated rail but the benefit is less surface area keeping the solenoid energized and lessens the risk of overheating it.  I have some capacitive discharge units on order which I plan on adding.  Hopefully they will arrive in the next week or two.

All this works great.  The problem I have is on my two different engines, when it crosses the copper tape it throws the E-unit into reverse.  On my Lionel 249 (1958 model), I can simply disable the E-unit and keep it running in forward only.  My other engine is a Marx 1666 and there is no manual switch to disable the E-unit.  If I disconnect the turnouts from the transformer, the E-unit does not go into reverse on its own, so I know it is not dirty brushes or the E-unit itself.

 

The way I have it wired is:

 

• Transformer hot track terminal to center rail.
• Transformer common track terminal to outside rail.
• Transformer hot accessories terminal to center terminal of each turnout.
• Transformer common accessories terminal to eight switches.
• Each switch to left or right terminal on each turnout.
• Wires soldered to copper tape to left or right terminal on each turnout.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Bob

[lionelsoni]

As I understand your wiring, I think it would neither throw the turnout nor have any effect on the e-units.  Are there any connections missing between the two transformers?  What kind of transformers are they?

[Stolidedog]

lionelsoni

As I understand your wiring, I think it would neither throw the turnout nor have any effect on the e-units.  Are there any connections missing between the two transformers?  What kind of transformers are they?

 

 

Hi Bob, thanks for the reply. I only run one transformer with seperate track and accessory terminals.  Currently I'm running MTH Z-1000, but I've also used Lionel 4090 and Marx 50 Watt (I think 1249 or like it).  

 

I suspect maybe it is some weak connection spots in the layout. I've got 3 lockons at various places.  Once I finalize my layout, I'll probably do some soldering along the joints to make the juice flow nicer.