Bob Nelson
Originally posted by lionelsoni Was the "isolated" rail disconnected from the switch when you made your voltage measurement? What I meant by a description was an explanation of what was connected to what, among the several rails and the switch-machine terminals. [/quote I will add some additional information. Unfortunately I am at work (goofing off) so I can't try the meter test now. I'll report tomorrow. I have the switches connected to one transformer (a Lionel accessory transformer) and the track connected to another transformer (Lionel ZW). The DZ-1000 swtiches are operating correctly when I use the push button controller. The trans run arount the track just fine. They enter the loop, but on the way back they derail in a spectacular fashion. When I tested the voltage and found power in the iso tarck, I did have power going to both the track and the switches (i.e. the red and green lights were on). To confirm my wiring of the switch, in addition to the standard wiring (red, green and black) of the DZ-1000 switch, I connect an extra single strand wire from the isolated rail to the switch. The DZ-1000 has three tiny screw connectors. I connect the extra single strand wires from the iso tracks to the outside screw connectors(either left or right) on the DZ-1000. NOTE: when I did the test of the iso track, I did not disconnect the wire from the switch machine. Could there be current flowing from the switch to the iso track via the extra single stand wire? Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 12:42 PM You said you are using two different transformers. Are the commons connected? Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:05 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Dennis B You said you are using two different transformers. Are the commons connected? No. How does one do that? Reply Edit lionelsoni Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin, TX 10,096 posts Posted by lionelsoni on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:07 PM Yes, leaving the wire connected invalidates the test. I think Dennis and I both suspect that your transformers are not connected together. The commons of both transformers should be connected to the outside rails. Bob Nelson Reply lionelsoni Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin, TX 10,096 posts Posted by lionelsoni on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:11 PM One terminal of your transformer for powering the train is already connected to the outside rails. Run a wire from that terminal to the common of the switch controller. Or run a wire from one of the outside rails to the common of the switch controller. Bob Nelson Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:13 PM The problem is that you are not getting a complete circuit from the switch machine transformer to the common side of the rail. Connect the common from your switch machine transformer to your non insulated common rail. The above answers accompli***he same thing. Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 1:31 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Dennis B The problem is that you are not getting a complete circuit from the switch machine transformer to the common side of the rail. Connect the common from your switch machine transformer to your non insulated common rail. The above answers accompli***he same thing. Thanks everyone. That makes sense to me. I will try it tonight and report back tomorrow. Reply Edit marxalot Member sinceDecember 2003 From: Southern Indiana 432 posts Posted by marxalot on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 6:23 PM Here is what the instructions say that I have: If the DZ-102 is used, the switch machine maybe wired for automatic non-derailing operation. If the control arm is in the "R" position and "L" is connected to Common, the control arm will move to the "L" position. Cut a piece of outer rail leading into the switch so it is isolated. Do this for a piece of rail for each switch position. Then wire one isolated rail to the "L" and the other to the "R" terminal. Then when a set of wheels connects the isolated rail to the opposite common rail, the switch machine will automatically change the switch. If it throws the wrong way, then reverse the "L" and "R" connections to the rail. So it sounds like we're dealing with the isolated outer rail..... Jim Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month SIGN UP More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dennis B You said you are using two different transformers. Are the commons connected?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dennis B The problem is that you are not getting a complete circuit from the switch machine transformer to the common side of the rail. Connect the common from your switch machine transformer to your non insulated common rail. The above answers accompli***he same thing.
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