Just finished laying the track on my 12 x 12 L shaped layout. I'm definitely going DCC, but first wanted to check all the track connections and conductivity of the layout.
I soldered all the rail joints and have gone back with my Dremel and made sure they are smooth. So, physically, they all look good. However, I'm beginning to have my doubts about electrically. I've used my multimeter to check resistance on each rail at the two farthest points and I get 0, as it should be. However, when I use an older power pack that I already have to try and run a loco just to test the system, I get intermittent and inconsistent results. Sometimes it jerks and stops and starts again. Other times, it makes the entire circuit. And not every loco will run.
There would seem to be two possible problems: (1) A problem with the old power supply - or simply not enough power for the size layout. My meter shows a constant 16.1 VDC as output. (2) Dirty track. Obviously it was handled while being laid, ballasted, etc., so I'm open to this possibility. However, that doesn't explain why sometimes it seems to work fine. But even so, I'm going to clean everything and try again.
Any other ideas? Thanks everyone...........
Clean the track and the wheels then give it another try.
Yep. A little lacquer thinner goes a long way. Seems to have done the trick. Thanks!
It is highly unlikey to be the track from the point of view of continuity between the various rail parts, but it doesn't mean your rail surfaces are clean. They may need to be buffed with emery cloth or something like 800 grit sand paper to get crud off them. Or, maybe some hot water and a rag if it is just glue or contaminants such as paint and such.
It may be the tire surfaces, it may be the backs of the wheels that are wiped, or maybe the axles where they are wiped...are they grungy and have forced the wipers back from the metal surface intended? Are the engines new or older ones? Maybe they are dry in lube or the motors are corroded. Wires do break here and there, from off the posts at the power source, along their length, to wires and solders inside the engine.
It happens even that solders are not correct, but are cold and not making good contact.