I am having trouble getting my 031 switches and my operating tracks to work. I had hooked up the operating track an cw-80 and used a z-750 for track power. Everytime I try to use the op. track it trips the breaker. Not much luck with the switches either. They are hooked up the standard way as per the directions. I have all the track ballasted and the areas are sceniced, so hopefully it is an easy fix. I can get to all the other wiring. The track level connections are set in the scenery quite a bit. What am I doing wrong? Any assistance would be great.
Michael
You can see the two switches and the op. track on the spur in the first pic. You can see in the second pic why it may be difficult to make a wiring changes up top.
The problem may be an imcompatiblity between your CW-80 and your MTH transformer. Older model CW-80's have the red post in common rather than the black ones. This has been corrected with new CW-80's. It sounds like to me that you have an older one and are essentially shorting out the the two transformers together since the MTH transformer will have the black post wired in common.
Typically, most people wire the black posts to the outside rails and the red post to the center rail.
If this is the case, try reversing the wires going to center rail and outer rails on one of the transformers either one.
A second possiblity is that you have a newer CW-80's where the black post is common, but it is not in phase with the MTH transformer.
You still have to worry about phasing the two transformers together no matter what brands you use. Did you properly phase both transformers? If not, search on the forum how to do that as it has been covered ad nausem.
pmilazzo wrote: The problem may be an imcompatiblity between your CW-80 and your MTH transformer. Older model CW-80's have the red post in common rather than the black ones. This has been corrected with new CW-80's. It sounds like to me that you have an older one and are essentially shorting out the the two transformers together since the MTH transformer will have the black post wired in common. Typically, most people wire the black posts to the outside rails and the red post to the center rail. If this is the case, try reversing the wires going to center rail and outer rails on one of the transformers either one. A second possiblity is that you have a newer CW-80's where the black post is common, but it is not in phase with the MTH transformer.You still have to worry about phasing the two transformers together no matter what brands you use. Did you properly phase both transformers? If not, search on the forum how to do that as it has been covered ad nausem.
Very good reply. think he has hit it.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
If you are using only one of the CW80 outputs for the auxiliary power, it shouldn't matter whether you have the old or the new version. It doesn't matter which terminal of each circuit is in common with the other circuit, since the other circuit isn't used.
Nor should it matter whether the two transformers are in phase. If we assume that the Z750 puts out a sine wave, there is in fact no way to connect or adjust the two transformers so that they have the same waveform. But there is no reason that I know why having them in phase is particularly desirable (or harmful).
What kind of track and turnouts are you using? What circuit breaker trips? I can't imagine a proper setup in which the track and auxiliary circuits should be connected together except at the outside rails, in which case there should be no tripping of the circuit breaker.
Bob Nelson
Hi all,
I agree, check for transformer phasing. As an easy test, Michael, try running your switches and accessory rail off the Z-750. If that cures the problem and your switches work properly, then you know you must get the two transformers phased.
Hi All,
I should post a schematic of the current wiring config. for the switches and the acc. track. I will try some of the suggestions made tonight and post back tomorrow. Thanks again for everyone's help so far.
This weekend, I tried hooking up both the switches off of my terminal block for track power and they work fine. I put a few drops of Labelle oil around/under the moving points and for the most part, they work well. plus, the oil adds to the realism that the layout has achieved. It blends well with the weathering done at the switch points. This may make me re-think DCS or TMCC. Not that it's a big yard area, but some switching of cars can be done. I was manually switching as well. Now I just have to get the accessory track woring . I hooked that one up to track power as well as a test, and nothing. I have to check the wiring against the wiring schemtaic supplied with the track section. the top is is ballasted over so I hope I don't have to remove them.
Thanks again for your help,
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