022 Switch Voltage Powers Rest of Track

[Anonymous]

I have just installed my first modern 022 switch. I had hoped to power it with fixed voltage through the fixed voltage plug, attached to the fixed voltage posts on Lionel's CW-80 Transformer. When I do this, however, the rest of the track gets powered with the fixed voltage. This happens even when I detach the variable voltage lead. I have checked both ground posts, and they seem to be a common ground -- either ground post will ground both the variable and fixed voltage leads.

There was a third insulating pin included with the switch, but I cannot find any mention of its use in the documentation.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any Suggestions?

Thanks!

[lionelsoni]

Is the plug fully inserted? Is the switch new? If not, someone may have jumpered around the fixed-voltage socket if its default connection was faulty.

[Anonymous]

The plug is fully inserted, and gets checked every time I try something different -- the plug is by no means snug. The switch is brand new.

[lionelsoni]

With the switch removed from the track and the plug inserted, there should be no electrical continuity whatsoever between the plug and the center rail. Do you have a way to check this?

[Anonymous]

I have a battery tester (meter), but that's about it.

[lionelsoni]

That and a good battery should be enough. Again, with the switch removed from the track and the plug inserted, connect one battery terminal to the plug, then test between the other battery terminal and the center rail. If you see a voltage, the problem is with the switch.

[Anonymous]

Just thought I would bring this thread to a conclusion, at least for me, at this time, etc....

It turns out the problem is with the internal wiring of the transformer -- if I wire things up as instructive and/or intuitive, the track ends up getting the constant power feed, even though the post set identifies it as being the variable post set. I have a posting (pardon the pun) in the 'Problem with CW-80' thread that details what works and doesn't work.

Thanks to all those helping!