UPDATE ON "SHORTING OUT"

[BNENGR]

Hello Group, Here's an update on my shorting out problem. I took the advice of several guys in this forum and another. Here's what I tried. I disconnected all the feeders from the new section including the new yard. Hooked up a PSX-AR in the new section. Ran a loco and wa-la, the same problem. When the loco crosses the gaps from new to old track sections it shorts out. The DCS-100 on my digitrax super chief clicks 4 times and cuts the power off. The shorting out L.E.D. on the PSX-AR also comes on. Okay, so I also tried this........The problem track section on the old part of the layout was block #8. I disconnected it completely from the switch in the control panel, cut the original feeders and hooked them up to the new DCC bus wires. Run the loco and the same problem occurs. (did I fail to mention that the short only occurs on one side of the layout?) When I reverse the feeders on the buses, the loco will cross the gaps on the opposite side of the layout and shorts out on the other side. Reversing polarity only switches the problem from one side to the other. Any ideas what's going on????

What would happen if I closed the gaps on both sides of the layout and made new and old one big block and ran extra feeders to it?

HELP! THANKS, PAULIE

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

The new section is a reversing section.  The short is only going to appear on one end or the other because the "polarity" only matches on one end.  The reverser is supposed to detect the short, and change the polarity in the reversing section.  So, I'm gussing you have something wired wrong, or set up wrong.  The input side of the PSX-AR should be hooked to the same bus as the original section of the layout.  The output of the PSX-AR should be the only source of power for the bus in the new section.  Make sure that is true, and then we'll see what else could be amiss.

[CSX Robert]

BNENGR,

I asked this in your other thread, but didn't get an answer. What type of turnout are you using between the old section and the new section and do you know if they are power routing? Some power routing turnouts short the rails of the leg that the turnout is not aligned for together. If that is the case, when you cross the gap closer to the leg of the turnout it is aligned for you would not have a problem, but when you cross the other gap, you would get a short through that leg of the turnout.

[BNENGR]

Hey CSX-Robert, Thanks for the post. In answer to your question, the turnout is an Atlas-snap switch (snap coil) a #4. I don't know the difference between non-powered and powered routing so I can't tell you that.

Thanks,

Paulie

[floridaflyer]

For what it's worth, I had the same problem with my Zepher and the reversing unit. the bottom line was the Zepher was weak and would short out before the reversing unit was able to do it's thing. Tony's tested the zepher  and replaced the unit. everything was fine with the new unit. Good job by them. It's unlikely that you have the same problem but it can and did occur. At 5 amps and the reversing unit at 3. something you should have enough safety margin. but it could be a factor.

[CSX Robert]

Well, I don't believe the Atlas Snap switches are power routing so that eliminates my theory.

[jbinkley60]

Hello Group, Here's an update on my shorting out problem. I took the advice of several guys in this forum and another. Here's what I tried. I disconnected all the feeders from the new section including the new yard. Hooked up a PSX-AR in the new section. Ran a loco and wa-la, the same problem. When the loco crosses the gaps from new to old track sections it shorts out. The DCS-100 on my digitrax super chief clicks 4 times and cuts the power off. The shorting out L.E.D. on the PSX-AR also comes on. Okay, so I also tried this........The problem track section on the old part of the layout was block #8. I disconnected it completely from the switch in the control panel, cut the original feeders and hooked them up to the new DCC bus wires. Run the loco and the same problem occurs. (did I fail to mention that the short only occurs on one side of the layout?) When I reverse the feeders on the buses, the loco will cross the gaps on the opposite side of the layout and shorts out on the other side. Reversing polarity only switches the problem from one side to the other. Any ideas what's going on????

What would happen if I closed the gaps on both sides of the layout and made new and old one big block and ran extra feeders to it?

HELP! THANKS, PAULIE

I went back to the original thread and don't see where you answered the question about what is protecting the original portion of your layout.  Is it just the DCS-100 output with no protection other than what is built into the DCS-100 ?  I would also look at the setting of J6 and make sure it is below the 5A output of the DCS-100.  4 beeps on the DCS-100 indicates a short circuit.  If the PSX-AR trip current is set too high, the DCS-100 will shutdown before the PSX-AR can switch the polarity.  The reason it shorts out on one side of the layout is because depending upon which way you have the feeders to the new section you will be in sync with the old section but on the other side of the layout you will have a mismatch.  Switch the polarity of the leads just flips the problem to the other side.  This is to be expected.

 

[BNENGR]

Hello Engineer Jeff, thanks for your post. In answer to your question about protection on the old section of the layout: There's no protection on the original portion of the layout. The DCS-100 is solely running the whole layout. I have 2 PSX-AR's that I can use for reverse loops and breakers. I will try your advice and check the trip current on the PSX-AR. Thanks. Paulie

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

It could be the setting of the PSX-AR, but I think out of the box they are low enough that it should trip.  And they are pretty fast.  Really double check the wiring, I think there is something amiss there, try to simplify, and look really carefully.

[relation]

You should call Tonys and talk to him I purchased 2 PXRs from Tony and had a problem like that and to make a long story short both PXRs were bad I called Tony and he is great to work with he sent me new ones and they were fine and work super.