Wiring question - have a short and I'm stumped

[Birds]

I am hoping that someone can help me out or enlighten me as to what I am doing wrong.

I have a small two line switch yard off of my main line.

To form it I have one O-22 left hand switch on the main line with the main line running through the straight section. We'll call it "Switch 1".

The curve of Switch 1 is connected to an O-22 right hand switch (Switch 2). The two legs of Switch 2 create the switch yard and they dead end at bumpers.

Every thing is fine until I connect track to the legs of Switch 2.

When I do that I run into power problems where the voltage drops on each of the legs off Switch 2, and the transformer heats up a bit.

If I remove the two legs, or remove Switch 2 entirely (and just have one siding coming off Switch 1) then everything is fine.

I am guessing a short is introduced when I add the legs onto Switch 2, and that it probably has something to do with non-derailing insulating pins on the two switches, but I do not understand how or why.

If my description doesn't make sense please let me know and I will try to rephrase it or draw it out.

Thanks,
Birds

[BR60103]

I suspect the insulating pins. But have you tried connecting different track sections to the switch? Sometimes there is an insulating defect with the center rail.
Have you put the insulating pins in on the second switch? If you haven't, the switch will be forever trying to throw (the non-derailing feature). the pins should be in the two short rails coming from the frog.

[Birds]

The insulating pins in the O-22 switches are in place.

I have tried different track sections coming off the Switch 2. Same problem.

Thanks,
Birds

[Big_Boy_4005]

Try it without the bumpers. They may be shorting it out.

Have you got another right hand switch to try?

It is possible to have a bad insulator on a piece of track. That would cause a direct short.

[Anonymous]

Try assembling the sidings one step at a time.

Add switch 2, by itself. Check for a short.

Add one section of track to switch 2. Check for a short.

Continue in this manner until you experience a short. The last section of track or bumper you added that caused a short condition has a fault.

In this way you can determine which single piece is defective in some manner.

Good luck!

Tony

[Birds]

Thanks for the replies.

The short is gone. Not sure what the exact problems was. I suspect it was a loose and greasy pin in one of the outside rails of a section of track.

The breaker on my KW wouldn't blow when powering the layout, but my starter set transformer's breaker tripped within a couple seconds. I imagine that the breaker on the starter transformer can't handle as many amps as the KW, and trips sooner.

I will be adding some conservative quick acting fuses, or resetable circuit breakers, coming off the A & B posts of the KW sooner rather than later.

The really good news is that by taking everything apart to try and solve this, I came up with a new layout arrangement that is much more interesting and even allows for a grade to be created.

Enjoy,
Birds