After adding five new storage tracks and six new turnouts I found I had a short across the tracks. I got out my trusty VOM meter and checked everything. I took every thing apart and cut the rails to the main line and followed the short circuit back to the DC power pack.
Continuity has to do with resistance, not voltage. There will be DC voltage if the pack is plugged in and the direction switch is in forward or reverse. Unplug and there will be resistance using the ohm meter selection with the direction switch in forward or reverse.
What is the actual resistance reading you measure?
The second pack may be in center, no direction selected or a defective pack. If the pack hums, and is quite warm, you would probably have a short if the circuit breaker did not trip. What are the brands of pack's?
This is a little confusing. Which one runs the trains just fine?
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
You can't check your new track for shorts with the power pack attached, even turned off.
Disconnect the power pack, remove all powered or lighted stock from the track, disconnect anything that is getting it's power from the track, and then check the track for shorts. If you find the track shorted start removing the new track you just added,one piece at a time until the short is gone.
You probably created a reverse loop or shorted switch when you added the new track.
With a diagram of the old and new, we can probably see where it is.
On a simpler note. Make sure you haven't left a tool on the track somewhere.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
After reading your second post I am confused. If you can run a train on the track why do you think it has a short? If it had a short the train would not run.
Without nothing connected to the packs, put your VOM on DC volts. Connect the meter to the track terminals on the pack. Plug in the pack, turn the pack on, switch to forward or reverse. Turn up the speed. The voltage should vary as you vary the control. No reading would mean the pack is no good. It could be shorted and it would heat up, a circuit breaker or fuse is open, defective connection in the pack.
With nothing on the track, there should be no resistance indicated on the VOM when measuring between rails.
richg1998 Without nothing connected to the packs, put your VOM on DC volts. Connect the meter to the track terminals on the pack. Plug in the pack, turn the pack on, switch to forward or reverse. Turn up the speed. The voltage should vary as you vary the control. No reading would mean the pack is no good. It could be shorted and it would heat up, a circuit breaker or fuse is open, defective connection in the pack. With nothing on the track, there should be no resistance indicated on the VOM when measuring between rails. Rich
You are in error. With nothing on the track there would be infinite resistance. No resistance would be a short.
Yes, I was thinking infinite and wrote no. My mistake. Thanks for the corection.