I'm working on a 4x8 N-scale layout that has 4 "blocks". It is currently wired for DCC (power bus wiring), but run on DC (as I don't have any decoder equipped locomotives yet). It has operated flawlessly for over a year, including after a recent move. Here's the problem.
I ballasted the rear portion on the railroad using a 50/50 mix of Woodland Scenics gray and dark gray fine ballast. I attached it using diluted white glue. Same process as the front half. HOWEVER, now whenever I place a locomotive on the track I get a short in all "blocks." The trains ran fine until I ballasted.
Does anyone have a clue as to why the ballast on the back half of the railroad created a short? Please help!
Perplexing ... No short until the loco is placed? Your method of ballasting is used by many for much larger layouts and if the ballast was creating some sort of high impedance connection then it would be a known problem on large layouts.
1. Are you using a DCC controller or a DC Power Pack, I presume the later with a selector switch?
2. Just one loco or all locos?
3. Does your power pack have a short detection mechanism?
4. Can you check current draw with no loco? Is there something?
5. Can you draw us a circuit diagram?
Can't jump to conclusions, but maybe while ballasting you pushed a wire close to another? Maybe your loco has just gone bad?
NP
Have you checked wit a meter (or maybe just a 16-volt light bulb) to see if there is power to the track without the locomotive? That would tell you if the problem is in the engine, at least.
But, I'm also inclined to think that a wire came loose during the ballasting, and is creating a short. Ballasting itself should not cause a problem. WS ballast is made, I think, from walnut shells, and is in itself not a conductor.
Is your ballast completely dry? In high humidity, it can take several days.
Finally, check all your track for "foreign objects" like paper clips, small screwdrivers or (my favorite) that Kadee coupler gauge.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Your comment "after a recent move" is the main clue here -- during the move something other than ballast is causing the short.
Since you have the layout divided into 4 blocks, you need to check the block where the short is occurring first.
A loose or broken wire would cause a loss of power but not a short. More than likely, some wires got moved around and are touching where they shouldn't.
Look under the layout instead of suspecting the ballast.
I agree with the others. The ballast is not the problem. The diluted glue is not the problem.
Neither the ballast nor the glue is a conductor of electricity.
Check your wiring and look for metal objects on your track.
Rich
Alton Junction
I want to thank you all for the helpful suggestions.
Turns out it was indeed a short in the wiring, but not to the track (at least directly). I took everyone's advise and rolled the layout out to inspect the wiring underneath. Everything was still tight and in its proper place. So I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the bus wires from the termincal strip (that will eventual be tied to my DCC equipment.
Well to make a long story longer, everthing is up and running now. Apparently one of my "bus" wires had a errant strand that was touching somewhere it shouldn't. I've gone back over the wiring again, but the problem seems to be solved.
Thanks again for the help.
cmartin659 Apparently one of my "bus" wires had a errant strand that was touching somewhere it shouldn't.
Apparently one of my "bus" wires had a errant strand that was touching somewhere it shouldn't.
Since you say you're using terminal blocks, if they're the type where you fasten the wire under a screw, you need to get some crimp-on terminals and crimping tool and use them. This will prevent the problem of loose strands of wire.
Well worth the investment and they make any changes or modifications easier, as well as ease of troubleshooting when necessary.
I use the catalog number 9108 purchased in bulk from All Electronics in Van Nuys, CA.