... not only with your Kato Unitrack turnout .
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Ah! Thank you Sir Maddog. I was getting frustrated. Now on to my problem.
I am building my first layout, a Kato Unitrack "Black River Junction" as was featured in Model Railroader in early 2007.
http://www.katousa.com/images/unitrack/3-0680.jpg
So far I have laid out the track on the table and hooked up a single feeder with my NCE Powercab to test things out. The feeder is connected where the track plan is labelled "New York Central RR". When I throw the switch labelled "861" (manually) the loco dies and power is restored once I return the switch. I have tried this with the loco in various positions on the inner and outer loops with the same results. I have also thrown a couple of other switches (850 & 860) with no problem.
I would appreciate suggstions on how to trouble shoot this problem.
Thanks
Mike
The 860/861 turnouts have selectible power routing. Out of the box they are power routing, which means they only supply power to the selected route. That's why with only one feeder the power shuts off when you change the route. On the underside there are some screws to change the power routing feature, you cna turn this off and it should be OK. You really should have more feeders though to ensure solid power delivery to all sections of the layout.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have added a bus and more feeders and it seems to have cured the problem. Randy could you please be more specific about what I do withthe screws to change the power routing feature. The screw I saw on the underside appear to just hold the cover plate. Thanks!
I only pass on information from looking it up on the Kato web site, since I've never used Unitrack, but it says those particualr pieces are switchable between power routing and not. The N scale section has the actual instructiosn that come with the turnouts online and those have screws underneath labeled to make them power routing or not, so I assumed the HO ones have somethign similar, but the HO instructions are not available online. If you have the paperwork that came with the turnouts it should tell you how to change this, since HO ones are significantly larger perhaps it's an actual switch and not just a screw. Or maybe the Kato web site is incorrect in saying that the 860/861 are switchable.
Kato Unitrack switches allw you to choose power routing or non-power routing by little screws on the bottom of the switch. Factory setting is power routing. When you stay with that option, you have to ensure, that your feeders are placed properly, otherwise you cut off the power by turning the switch.
Unfortunately my turnouts don't have the screws that you are refering to. (I found a reference to them on Kato's website) I haven't been able to get to the layout for a few days and playing around today I find I'm still having the same problem with other switches inside the oval. When I get a chance I 'm going to add more feeders to see if that cures the problem.
M_Robinson Unfortunately my turnouts don't have the screws that you are refering to...
Unfortunately my turnouts don't have the screws that you are refering to...
The 850/851(#4) turnouts do not have the screws, they are always power routing. The 860/861(#6) turnouts do have the screws for selecting power routing.
CSX Robert The 850/851(#4) turnouts do not have the screws, they are always power routing. The 860/861(#6) turnouts do have the screws for selecting power routing.
Neither my #6 or #4 electric turnouts have the screws previously mentioned. Today I took the time to read the instructions that came with the turnouts (something I should have done to begin with) and found that the #6 have "selector plugs" hidden under a roadbed filler piece. These plugs can be removed for non power routing.