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Digitrax and Bachmann Dcc #6 turnout problem

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  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 4 posts
Digitrax and Bachmann Dcc #6 turnout problem
Posted by Loconik on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 11:09 PM

Hi all,

This is my first time on here and to the hobby. So i bought my son the Walthers trainline train set and a Bachmann dcc #6 left turnout and extra tracks for christmas. The problem is when I install the turnout and power the Digitrax controller ( according to the manual) I get a short circuit. No locomotive on the track and right when the power comes on the power button is flashing. How can I resolve this problem? With the turnout out everything runs smooth.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/931-891

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, December 27, 2012 9:26 AM

There may be a short circuit within the Bachmann turnout if you have only one and the additional track is a dead end.

Do you have only one turnout, or did you create a "reverse track" by installing two turnouts to cross over from one main line to the other?  That would definitely cause a short circuit if you are trying to cross over and reverse the direction of travel.

Try removing the additional track and see if there is still a short when the turnout is in the circuit with nothing but the straight-through track connected.  If everything is okay this way but the short occurs when the siding track is connected, there's an electrical problem within the turnout.

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 4 posts
Posted by Loconik on Friday, December 28, 2012 4:36 AM
No reverse track. I only have one dcc turnout and had dead end. So I need at least two ddc turnouts to make it work? What about non-dcc turnout used with dcc turnout?
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Friday, December 28, 2012 8:44 AM

What happened when you tried what Cacole suggested?  

With only the turnout in the loop (no additional track added to the dead end spur) does the layout short?  Does it short with the turnout switched in both directions?

 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 4 posts
Posted by Loconik on Friday, December 28, 2012 11:35 AM
Yes there is a short. The track is one way only right now and nothing connected to the dead end spur and still
  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 4 posts
Posted by Loconik on Friday, December 28, 2012 11:45 AM
Only one turnout connected. The track is one way only (round). The turnout straight through is connected and the and the other piece ( dead end spur) that is curved on the tunrout has nothing connected to it. Still get a short. With track 3 straight pieces connected to the dead end spur still get a short.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Friday, December 28, 2012 12:38 PM

Must be a bad turnout then.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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