Hello all!
I am new to DCC and am in the process of setting up an HO layout using my Bachmann EZ Command system. I am having a huge issue with a short? The section that seems to be the culprit is the up and over. The up and over does a semi figure 8 and where it connects back to the main line, it instantly shorts once the rails are connected. i have tried placing insulated connectors at this point, the end result is once the loco crosses over the connection it shorts. I have tried a jumper wire and that has not helped either.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Sounds like you have a return loop there. Do this: Draw your track plan out on a piece of paper with two lines for the rails. Now go over one rail with a red marker. Does it finish where it started? If it finishes on the other rail you have the track turning back on itself. Positive and negative must never touch for obvious reasons. It sounds to me that the semi figure eight is your problem. It's looping the track back around into a reversing loop.
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The problem is most likely the track coming back on itself somewhere. Imagine putting a locomotive on your track somewhere and heading around the layout. Is it possible with your track arrangement for that locomotive to arrive back at the starting point heading the other way? If so, that is your problem. Somewhere there is what is referred to as a reversing section. It needs to be isolated from the rest of the track and it needs to get its power through either an auto reverse module (highly recommended) or a properly wired DPDT switch. The reversing section should be at least as long as your longest train so as not to change polarity while part of the train is still on the other side of the gaps.
KZTn&hoI am having a huge issue with a short? The section that seems to be the culprit is the up and over. The up and over does a semi figure 8 and where it connects back to the main line, it instantly shorts once the rails are connected. i have tried placing insulated connectors at this point, the end result is once the loco crosses over the connection it shorts. I have tried a jumper wire and that has not helped either.
Fortunately it is much easier to fix with DCC than it would have with DC. To fix it you need to put in a second set of insulated connectors. The section between the insulated connectors needs to have a DCC automatic reversing loop controller connected to it. To say exactly where they need to be we would need to see the actual track diagram.
You have a similar post on the General Information tab so i will leave my reply here. If you have a dead short because of a reverse loop situation I agree you will need some kind of an auto reversing unit. Some people have recommned using an PSX-AR which am i sure would fit the bill. From what I can see, they are about $50. Take a look at the Digitrax AR-1. It is half the cost and is very easy to wire up.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
Sorry for the delayed response. Thank you all for the advise. I will look into a auto reverse switch. If I go with the AR-1, do I need a decoder?
KZTn&hoSorry for the delayed response. Thank you all for the advise. I will look into a auto reverse switch. If I go with the AR-1, do I need a decoder?