Got yet another one for my Forum friends: On the mainline of my new layout, I have a section of track that is doing something a bit weird. When the engine I am using to test the track goes over a certain section the joint sparks. It doesn't do it before the engine goes over it, but it does it when the engine goes to the left of it. As usual, any ideas would be most welcomed.
Solution:
1) more feeders
2) solder your joiners
Cause:
Any time there is a spark it indicates you have one energized leg bridging a non-energized leg. This holds true for electric switches, trolley poles or simply holding an energized source and touching it to the remainder of the circuit, providing there is a load, or to ground.
You must have a locomotive or a load of some kind (lighted passenger cars) on the side that the locomotive is entering. As it bridges the loose joiner the wheel is acting like a contact of a switch and energizing the dead (or lower potential) side of the "Circuit".
If you add more feeders to the section the locomotive is entering, the "potential" between the two sections will be reduced or eliminated and this will eliminate the spark.
I had a slightly different scenario on my layout where I had track in two different power districts (DCC) and as it turns out, Digitrax had mis-labeled the output of the booster's Rail A and Rail B so every time a train (engine) would pass from one or the other power district there would be a brief spark as the booster reacted to the mis-matched "phase" of the circuit.
Add more feeders or solder the joints.
Good Luck, Ed
gmpullman solder your joiners
solder your joiners
What I ended up doing was using some wire glue that I had left from another project for my old layout on the joint.(I built a grade crossing that used two pieces of track with the track connection in the middle of the crossing. The glue was used to glue the rail joiners to the rail end. It was originally for my old layout but I had put enough work into it I reused it for the new layout by designing the branch line to use the crossing.) I used it on both sides of the joint in question. I just checked the joint a few minutes ago and I saw that the spark seems to have disappeared.
I would remove the old joiners and throw them away. Clean the rails thoroughly to remove the glue, and then reassemble the joint with clean joiners.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Ed,
.
That was a great explanation of what is happening. Thank you for the time to write that response.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks, Kevin!
Retirement has its perks as you will see someday, soon I hope.
Cheers, Ed