Equipment:
- Digitrax Super Empire Builder set up for auto reverse loop operation
- Bachmann DCC equipped crossover turnout with a live frog
The right side of the turnout with the connecting track has a A-B polarity. The connecting track winds around the layout and returns to the left side of the crossover turnout with a B-A polarity.The crossover turnout creates a reverse loop. Without the crossover turnout connecting the parallel tracks, no polarity problem would exist.
When I hooked up the crossover to its connecting tracks with the opposite polarities, the Digitrax system immediately short circuited.
I thought the Digitrax auto reverse looping feature would take care of the problem. It did not.
Do I need to chop up this expensive turnout and wire it basically like a power routed turnout with a SPDT switch?
Any ideas to resolve this problem?
Yours In Model Railroading,
John
Littleton, CO
You have a faulty crossover. Read THIS thread.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Jeffrey, et al,
I read that other thread. Good information. I checked the frogs to make sure they were not touching the closure rails. A couple were very close, so I increased the gap a little so no electricity could move between.
Still getting the short circuit. The layout is wired properly, as when I detach the crossover, the short goes away.
What else could be faulty with this crossover turnout? And, are Bachmann turnouts prone to being faulty?
This is my first shot at Bachmann turnouts, I priced out the cost of other crossover turnouts, plus under the table switch machines and stationery decoders, and the ala cart price comes out the same as buying the Bachmann package deal - and a lot easier than installing under the table switch machines.
Except now I have this confound short circuit!
I have many Bachmann turnouts and don't have any problems with any of them. I don't however have any of the crossover turnouts, not intact at least. I bought one last year and cut it up to make an extended crossover. I removed all the electronics from it so it's all manual operation. I did notice some wires on the bottom that I think supplied power to the crossover rails. You may want to look at those to see if your short might be there. Another thing, draw a trace of your track plan with the crossover in place and follow the rails with two colored pencils, one red and one blue. If somewhere along the way red touches blue, there's your short.
Jeffrey,
The way I layed in the crossover, I effectively created a reverse loop. A gap solved the problem.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
No problem. Glad I could help.
Go Saints!
D&RGWRR476 Go Saints!