Trains.com

Shorts while running

982 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2011
  • 4 posts
Shorts while running
Posted by Pampawtrain on Friday, December 23, 2011 8:20 PM

I have a DCC system that trains will be running and have a temporary short, turns off then back on, this seams to happen on and arround a couple of swirtches.  I have changed the switches and I am at a lose as to what would be the cause.  Really could use some ideas on finding a solution to this big little problem.

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Centennial, CO
  • 3,218 posts
Posted by Stourbridge Lion on Friday, December 23, 2011 8:26 PM

Pampawtrain- Welcome to Trains.com! Cowboy

KRM
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: North Bluff above Marseilles IL
  • 6,506 posts
Posted by KRM on Friday, December 23, 2011 8:39 PM

Pampawtrain

I have a DCC system that trains will be running and have a temporary short, turns off then back on, this seams to happen on and arround a couple of swirtches.  I have changed the switches and I am at a lose as to what would be the cause.  Really could use some ideas on finding a solution to this big little problem.

Pampawtrain,

 First off Welcome! Welcome

 How about some information?

 What kind of track, switches, trains, power pack, yada , yada ,yada

The more you can tell these guys the better your chance of getting the Right answer.

Tks,

 Kev.

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

  • Member since
    December 2011
  • 4 posts
Posted by Pampawtrain on Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:17 AM

This is an HO system with Digitrax as the operating system.  The track is flex track and the switches are brand ???. The engines are Wathers Proto 200 SD7/9.  Hope this info helps in solving the problem

Tags: HO , Diesel Engines
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:07 AM

As long as your train room is adequately heated and your legs are presentable, I see no problem with shorts while running...;-)

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 815 posts
Posted by EIS2 on Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:38 AM

Run the train at night with the lights off and watch for sparks.  If you don't see any sparks with the lights off, remove the loco shell and try it again.

It is also possible that the problem is not a short, but an intermittent open circuit.  Good Luck...

Earl

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:48 AM

lionelsoni

As long as your train room is adequately heated and your legs are presentable, I see no problem with shorts while running...;-)

oooooooooooooooooh.

What happened to "serious" Bob Nelson.  Laugh

Good one, Bob.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • 682 posts
Posted by balidas on Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:40 AM

LaughLaughLaugh

lionelsoni

As long as your train room is adequately heated and your legs are presentable, I see no problem with shorts while running...;-)

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Butler, WI
  • 117 posts
Posted by butleryard on Saturday, December 24, 2011 2:41 PM

I think they call them "Running Shorts"!

Is it possible you have a loose connection somewhere on your track? Loose track connection or bad wire connection?

Or is it possible your flanges on the wheels are touching another piece of track when your engine runs through the switch? Thus would cause the short.

Thanks, Butleryard. IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER! IF YOU ARE READING THIS IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER!
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: A State of Humidity
  • 2,441 posts
Posted by wallyworld on Saturday, December 24, 2011 5:08 PM

balidas

LaughLaughLaugh

 

 lionelsoni:

 

As long as your train room is adequately heated and your legs are presentable, I see no problem with shorts while running...;-)

 

 

Good One..Bob...thats the first thing I thought of as well. Beats pajama bottoms.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:44 PM

Pampawtrain

This is an HO system with Digitrax as the operating system.  The track is flex track and the switches are brand ???. The engines are Wathers Proto 200 SD7/9.  Hope this info helps in solving the problem

Welcome to the forums

You may want to take this over to modle railroad forum as they deal more into the dc side althou folks like Bob are very electrical I'm just saying there the ones that run trains in DC all the time and they are HO where we are mostly O, S and standard gauge here in classic toy trains. and mainly AC opperations but your question I'm sure you can get some great answers here also and were glad to have you here.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, December 25, 2011 4:49 AM

rtraincollector

 Pampawtrain:

This is an HO system with Digitrax as the operating system.  The track is flex track and the switches are brand ???. The engines are Wathers Proto 200 SD7/9.  Hope this info helps in solving the problem

 

You may want to take this over to model railroad forum as they deal more into the dc side. 

rtraincollector is right.

You will get a lot of good technical advice from other Digitrax users over on the Model Railroad Forums.

Post your message on the Electronics and DCC Forum.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Florida
  • 2,238 posts
Posted by traindaddy1 on Sunday, December 25, 2011 4:56 PM

Bob: So, who's looking at your legs!

Pampawtrain:  Welcome.  Good advice, try the Modelers' Forum.  A lot of great HO people over there.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month