So I inherited an N Scale layout from a family friend who knew I was building my own, his is complete so I will use that one for now. However I inherited a wiring mess along with it and he doesn't remember how it was wired or disconnected. I could use your guys help on getting me going:
Basically, the track(s) are devided into 4 block sections so that you can park one train on a siding while running a 2nd train. Those 4 blocks come back to individual positive wires into a buss, then from the buss up to a dip switch which lets you toggle either power a or b. From here on is where I get lost, all of the negative wires he soldered together onto one wire. Then there's individual pos and neg for each of the two controllers just loose. What do I need to do to get this working? From my understanding I need to take the pos wire from power a up to the "a" feed of the switch, and the pos wire from b up to the "b" feed on the switch. But will connecting the 3 negative wires create a problem? I guess I'm just not sure what to do with that negative wire(s) honestly. I just want to get all 4 blocks working the proper way. Thank you for any help!
Joes2fst4u,
To The Forums.
Take some time out and review the info on this site. Once you familiarize yourself with the understanding of how it is supposed to work, you will find how easy it can be:
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/track.htm
Continue to ask questions here. There are many to help.
Frank
Edit: You may also look through these Video's on DC Cab Control in N-Scale. Also the black bar at the top of this page, Titled ''Get Started'' helpful info there also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W73o6g2zjaQ
Btw: Just to answer one of your questions. It sounds like, he has it wired for common rail wire. Which means, there is a insulated rail joiner on one rail separating the four blocks. Keep that in mind when you review the articles and see if you can spot where the insulated joiners are. That will help in determining how it was wired and how to help you get it going again.
From the description, it sounds like DC, not DCC.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain From the description, it sounds like DC, not DCC. Rich
Yep, good ol' common rail DC sounds like to me, too.
If it's wired properly, then yes, so long as those are the grounds, you hook all of three of them together. The cab control switches shift the power on the positive lead to either A or B cabs. All the black/negeative/ground leads are tied together on the return to the power packs.
Hook it up, then test. If the power pack doesn't show a short when first hooked up, that's a good sign. If it does, then unhook all the grounds except one, then test for a short again. Hopefull, there's not, but work your way through each ground one at a time if there is to determine where the problem lies, then troubleshoot that circuit. Etc, etc.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Hey guys thanks a bunch! Yep it's DC, common rail wiring. After what you guys said and finally getting the guy I got it from to tell me more I can see that the pos and neg wires were labelled incorrectly. So if I switch my leads around and hook them up the right way (haha) then I shouldn't have any problems. I'll get to try it tomorrow night, I'll let you guys know if it works or not. Thanks!
Try to remember the stuff that was disconnected as you reconnect it. If everything's good, no sweat. But if it has a short or open, then just disconnect was was loose before. Then reconnect one connection at a time, testing as you go. That way if there's a problem circuit, you'll be narrowing down it's location in the wiring. That makes it way easier.
Thank you! I will definitely keep that in mind as I work on it tomorrow night!
If the LEFT rail is GROUND Then the Right rail controls the train + is Forward and - is Reverse.
Pick one lead from each transformer and make it GROUND and the other goes to the selection bus. Operate the reversing switch to change directions. Works great.
If more questions you have, LION will hear them.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Thank you Lion!
Joes2est4u,
I just posted this on another Thread. Should help You also:
Common rail wiring, two cab control w/toggle switchs:
BTW: To The Forums
Same as above, but using Atlas Selector, instead of toggle switchs:
Thank you! I've determined that somewhere within the wiring there's a major problem as if two wires are crossed somewhere but I can't find where. That's ok though, I'll do it the right way on my own expansion later this year.
And thanks for the warm welcome! I'm happy and excited to finally be doing a layout!