Help With Lionel Fastrack Turnouts Not Switching Fully

[Bill54]

I’ve been changing over from HO to O scale for little more than a year now so I’m still pretty new at the O stuff. I’ve started a 14’ x 16’ “L” shaped Lionel Fastrack layout.  There is an outer loop that follows the L shape around  and an inner loop that does the same but also has two return loops at the ends. I have recently wired the layout with 12 gauge wire from a center point to 10 places on the inner and outer loops, sort of like a wagon wheel.

When I run a train it maintains the same speed all the way around the layout so I believe it is getting the same amount of current all around.  Prior to wiring the layout I only had one spot wired and when the train got further away it would slow down, as it approached the one wired spot it would pick up speed again.

My problem is when I run the train at a slow speed, 50% or less, the turnouts won’t switch or they only move a little bit, not enough to completely switch the train.  However, if the transformer is 60% or better the turnouts switch fine.  I'm using a Lionel CW-80 80 watt transformer.

My question is do I need to use a separate power source, like another transformer, to power just the turnouts?

Has anyone else encountered this problem?  If so what did you do to correct the problem?

Thanks,Bill

 

[Timboy]

 

[Ole Timer]

 I think you hit his problem right on Timboy .... that 80 watter is'nt enough .... but instead of buying multiple small ones .... I'd get a much larger/powerful transformer .... and use the 80 for accessories and such .  Plus most of the other transformwers are repairable .... the cw-80's are not .... lionel considers them throw aways . 

[Timboy]

 

[bigdogjeff]

i run six switches on my layout and i run my switches off its own line so the train doesnt take the current away from the switches

 

[servoguy]

You have a accessory terminal on your CW-80 which you can set to be any voltage from 0-18 volts. This should work fine for your switches. They don't take much current. Bruce Baker

[Bill54]

I appreciate everyon'e help.  I was only running one engine to see if the new wiring worked like I hoped it would and used the CW-80 because it was easily accessable.  I have a new ZW with two 180 watt bricks that I plan on using for the layout once I get the control panel set up.  I also have an Atlas 80 watt transformer that I can use for the accessories. 

Now all I need to do is set up the turnouts to run on accessory power and I'll be set. 

Thanks again, Bill