Springfield PA
Did you assign an address to each Tortoise, and are you using your Power House Pro's controller to tell the Switch 8 to throw the switch using those addresses? I use the NCE SwitchIt controllers and had to assign an address to each output.
I'm not familiar with the Switch8, but with the SwitchIt you have to put a jumper wire between two screw terminals, operate the turnout on the desired address, and then remove the jumper.
Go through your Switch8 instructions and make sure you are assigning a different address to each Tortoise.
The switches respond. The problem is that more times than not I have to cycle power to the unit several times to get it to respond. The first address had been working and stopped. It has voltage output but seems to have lost it's program.
It sounds like two possible causes: A poor electrical connection between your track or booster and the Switch8, or your power supply is not putting enough amperage to the Switch8 (or the voltage is low).
If you have a voltmeter, set it on the AC Volts range and read the voltage going into the Switch8. You should have something in the range of 14.5 Volts AC, plus or minus .1 Volt. If you don't get this reading, something is amiss with your power supply.
Voltage under load is 14.2 at the unit. It's powered by a PH Pro 5 amp DCC System. I noted the voltage to the NCE tech and he didn't think adjusting track voltage would help.
What gauge wire did you use to connect the Switch8 to the track. I used 18 gauge stranded speaker wire connected to the track bus wiring and have never had problems with the SwitchIt controllers.
You may have a defective Switch8, but it sounds to me like it is not receiving adequate amperage.
It's 18 or 16 gauge connected directly to the 14 gauge bus. I measured the voltage under load at the input terminals.
I think your wire size is okay, especially if the run is short.
Are you certain that you are following the programming instructions properly? And did you remove that programming jumper when you were done programming?
Yes. Remember the unit runs fine. If you cycle power for any reason the unit stops responding to commands. After cycling power several times it will start working again. It is at default address. Heat shouldn't be an issue since the basement is about 72 degrees F.
Since my last post I installed a new unit. I will be needing one for 4 upcoming torti's on another section of the layout. I figured I'd get it up front and try it out. It works fine. The other unit will be returned for repair/replacement.
Thanks for the input all.