Problem operating switches in TMCC

[fastrackjonnie]

I have a FasTrack layout with 22 switches.  They are hooked up to several ASC's, wired in daisy-chain fashion and powered separately by Lionel's 1.8 amp accessory transformer.  Some of the switches are wired in pairs, so that both switches in a pair operate together.  At first all of the switches, including all of the switch pairs except one, worked properly.  Now, only the single switches operate.  I usually can see one of the switches in the pairs attempting to operate but it appears there is not enough power to complete the action.

Four loops of the layout are powered by a modern ZW transformer with each loop attached to a terminal hooked to a 180 watt Powerhouse.  A fifth loop is powered by a TPC 400 with (1) 180 watt Powerhouse.  I've jumpered each loop with 16 ga. wire every 8 to 10 feet.  The ZW has been set to operate in a single handle mode and all four handles have been set to maximum power.  (However, I'm never sure that I'm getting the maximum voltage when I use the Cab-1 throttle).

Is anyone knowledgable in this area?

ftj

[Roger Bielen]

Have you tried increasing the voltage?  I had one on a layout I've built for someone that needed a little extra push.  It's possible that with everything hooked up you creeped up on the capacity of the transformer.  I guessing that you've wired the switches for power feed separate from the track power.

[fastrackjonnie]

Roger: 

Thank you for your quick response:

 With regard to trying to increase the voltage, I did on many occasions try to increase the power using the red wheel on the Cab-1.  It does not seem to make any difference.  (One of the frustrating things I''m finding is that I can't tell how much power is going to the track using the Cab-1). 

I haven't hooked up the switches with an independent power source because I had difficulty doing so when I made a test layout.  However, with about 250 feet of track and 900 watts of power evenly distributed, it would seem that there should be adequate power from the track.  (This is purely an intuitive response because I'm anything but an expert on power requirements).

ftj

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Two things struck me when I read your post.  First you are using ASC and not an SC-2 to run switches with TMCC.  Second, I have one set of switches wired in pairs and I won't do it again. 

Also, make sure the TPC 400 is set to full power.  Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Roger Bielen]

Brent, if your running in a TMCC environment with 18V to the track and the switches are track powered that should be more than enough juice.  I used a 10V accessory feed for the switches on the layout I mentioned.  Another problem I've run into in the past is when the switches were screwed down to the layout a bit of distortion caused binding.  This can occure with the screwwing down of adjacent tracks also.