power supply problem

[fugdoss]

Hi!

Having a problem with a power supply, MRC Tech II which I bought several years ago.Has not seem much use.

I am on my second Model railroad that I started about a year ago.

It will be approx 40 feet in length when I,m finished.I am doing a bit at a time, checking out the track to make sure that the railroad will operate without any problems.

I am using 14 gauge hoese wire for the main bus system with connections with the suitcase connectors.

I have been placing track connections approx every 3 feet as recomended, and up till now every thing has worked OK.

Finished another section of track and wiring and I getan overload light on the Tech II transformer.

Checked the track for possible shorts and nothing came up visual?

Is the Tech 2 big enough for the system I am building or do I have to go to a larger tranformer control system?

I am using the tech II for startup & checking out the layout, I plan to go to a DCC system, Should I switch to a system now? Could this be the problem witth the overload on the transformer?

[maxman]

If you're getting the overload light with no engines on the track, I think you've got a short someplace.  You didn't leave a tool on the tracks, did you?

[rrinker]

 Or did you create a reverse loop, where the train can loop around and come back on the same track facing the opposite direction? Or build a Wye configuration with 3 legs. Either of those requires insulated joiners and an extra toggle switch to control polarity. Physical size of the layout has little to do with how much power you actually need, assume solid wiring (#14 wire and feeds every 3 feet should be plenty adequate).

                                           --Randy

[richhotrain]

If the transformer was working fine until now, and there are no engines or other metal objects on the track, it has to be a fault or short in your wiring.  I cannot imagine that the length of the trackwork is causing a problem. 

Depending upon how you track is secured (caulk, nails, soldered, whatever), if you can easily take up the track, work backworks and start removing track until you remove the short. If you cannot easily do that, disconnect the transformer from the layout and connect it to a circle of track.  If that is OK, the transformer is fine, so then you are going to have to re-examine your existing trackwork, remving it if necessary to find the short.

Let us know how this all works out.

Rich

[mobilman44]

Hi!

You indicated you used "housewire" as a power buss.  If so, I suspect both wires are the same color - which can lead to a wiring mix-up.  This is especially true if you kept them together (like they come in a lamp cord), and a wiring mistake is just waiting to happen.

The previous posters all had valid points as well, and I would heed their advice.  I would also advise that your two bus wires be different colors - which will make wiring (and subsequent trouble shooting) much easier.

Mobilman44