I have a section of track on my layout where my engine keeps stalling, almost like there is no power. the track is soldered and there is even a set of feeders to the piece of track where the stall is occuring. All of the other tracks work, so I have no idea why this one little section does not? Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you fix it?
I'm using the Bachmann EZ Command DCC system on a 8x12 layout, so there should be plenty of power.
Thanks
Jake
Is the engine stalling, or are you getting a short?
If the engine is stalling, maybe the problem is not at the track end of the wire. If you have a voltmeter, set it to the AC scale and see what voltage you are getting across the rails in a section where the train runs. Then see what you are getting across the rails where the train doesn't run. Note that the voltage value you see isn't important for this check. What you need to find out is if the two readings are the same. You could have a bad solder joint at the rail joiners, or the wire to the track could be loose at the point where it is fed from the track power bus.
If you are getting a short, then you have the feed wire leads swapped to this track section.
When you say stall, do you really mean slows way too much, or will it actually come to a full stop at that site?
If you have wires reversed at one point, it should short the whole systema and you would not be able to run trains at all. Of course, if the section is isolated by gaps, that's a whole nuther question.
Is this happening on a curve? How tight? Maybe the rails are too tight in gauge along the apex of the curve and force your engine to bind.
How good was your solder? Did it flow entirely into the joiner and weld both rail ends? As the gentleman suggested above, a mulitmeter that can be acquired for $14 set to AC and 20 volts will show you if your rails are getting full voltage at, in front of, and on the other side of the affected rails...if the rails are indeed the problem.
Sometimes it isn't track power or gauge, but a short in the engine-tender complex. Something metallic grounded is making contact with power and it should not...it is the wrong orientation of power, so you get a short. But if it's a short, your system should say so.
You need to figure this out and provide more definitive information if we are to help, but some of what he have mentioned may shed some light on it.
Easiest test I know of:
1. Turn off track power.
2. Take a voltmeter and turn the dial to "Ohms"
3. Take the probes and test the two sections of track that should be of the same polarity. For example, a thrown left hand turnout, the frog and the right rail should be of the same polarity. Put one of the testors on the frog, one on the right hand rail. Next test the frog rails after the frog. They two should be of the same polarity. Connect one probe to the right rail, and another to the inside right rail of the the divergine route (past the frog in question.)
4. Next, make the turnout straight/thru. For a left hand turnout, touch the left hand rail and the frog. Then touch the left hand rail, and the left hand rail past the frogs on the straight section.
It should read ~"0.0" Ohms. A reading of "0L" (Or "range" message flash) indicates there is a broken connection somewhere.
If all the above read 0 Ohms, then your loco is causing the short.
What brand turnout did you use? Are they labeled as DCC friendly? Are the frogs isolated/plastic? Are the points seperate? Are the through and diverging rails seperate from each other and the frog?
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Does this happen to all engines, or only one?
Try running 2 engines at once, separated by a good distance. What happens to the second engine when the first one stalls? Does it stop, too, or slow down, or just keep going?
Is there a turnout where the engine stalls?
Is this a short 8-wheel switcher, or maybe even a 4-wheel industrial switcher or a Dockside? These engines have fewer points of contact with the rails, and you may be unlucky enough that they are all hitting naturally dead spots, like plastic "frogs" on turnouts, at the same time. Some turnouts don't maintain good electrical contact with the moving point rails, so that is another possible dead zone.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
selector When you say stall, do you really mean slows way too much, or will it actually come to a full stop at that site?
selectorIs this happening on a curve? How tight? Maybe the rails are too tight in gauge along the apex of the curve and force your engine to bind.
It is happening on a shallow curve (22") and it is using sectional track so there really shouldn't be changes in gauge.
selectorHow good was your solder? Did it flow entirely into the joiner and weld both rail ends?
My solder joints could be the problem, as well as lack of feeder wires in that region of track.
DigitalGriffinWhat brand turnout did you use? Are they labeled as DCC friendly? Are the frogs isolated/plastic? Are the points seperate? Are the through and diverging rails seperate from each other and the frog?
The stall is not occuring at a turnout. It is occuring after a bridge on a shallow curve.