I was installing a second Atlas code 100left hand swith to another already in place Atlas code 100 left hand swith with a short piece of connecting rail to create a crossover. When I finished connecting them my power supply started to flash its red indiactor power on lght to indicate that there as a probably short circuit.I removed the new # 8 swith from the layout and the red power light went to a steady power on. I am assuming the new #8 ATlas swith must be bad?
Any guesses as to why this happened?I checked the entire layout for any possibility for any metal object across th tracks. NO problems of this kind found.I am wondering if purchasing another # 8 code 100 left hand swith will fix the problem? I have two other Atlas code 100 swithes forming two croossovers one left hand one right hand with no problems.So this incident has me looking for an answer.
A few things to check one before going the route of a new turnout:
1. Check the turnout with a continuity tester and make sure that the rails aren't connecting where they're not supposed to be. That would be rare in an Atlas turnout as they have insulated frogs but stranger things have happened.
2. This is a bit more probable. Make sure you haven't accidently created a reverse loop. Follow the crossover with all track possibilities and make sure that a theoretical engine can't turn itself around (Front ends up facing the rear.). Wouldn't be the first time what was thought to be a simple crossover turned into a reverse loop.
3. If the area where the crossover is going is an area that wasn't previously connected to anything, make sure you don't something miswired. (I swaped the power feeds on a section on my current layout and that caused a problem until I tracked it down.)
Other people might have other ideas but those are the ones that pop into my head.
I removed the switch from the layout, but electrically simulated it with jumper wires connecting all the rails that were connected by the switch.
I got the same problem, my power supply started blinking on its power on indicator light.
However the train would not be swithing directions as it travelled around the layout.
I do have a reversing switch device but not sure if that would handle the problem or just where to connect it. Any suggestions?
Are these snap-switches? Do you have a CD circuit to power them?
I have a healthy system, but suddenly couldn't run Peco turnouts. Those turnouts take too much power. I added one CD circuit for all my twin-coil devices and the problems went away.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Lacking a track plan, we have to assume you are correct and there is no reversing loop. In that case a reversing switch would not help.
Borrowing a pic from Walthers:
There should be continuity between every rail with a +
There should be continuity between every rail with a -
You didn't mention wiring the frogs so there should be no continuity between the frogs and any rail nor should there be continuity between a + rail and a - rail.
Is there any chance they are not Atlas turnouts?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hi Henry,
They are Atlas #8 switches connected as you show in th picture.I am using DCC
For now I am replacing the switch with a straight piece of Atlas code 100 track. I do not wish to burn out a power supply as they are expensive.I'll just live without the cross over. I have essebntially 3 DCC loops and one DC loop powerd by a separate power supply