Wiring Question

[cuyama]

1butlerhawk

I posted this question a bit earlier, but it apparently was not accepted.

It seems like this might have been the same problem that you posted earlier, and there were some replies that might be helpful.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/255893.aspx

[superbe]

1butlerhawk

As suggested the finger test and the multimeter should define your problem.

I notice this is only your third post and I hope you won't take offense when I say that responding to a question with what solved or didn't solve the problem is helpful to those answering and reading this thread

Good luck

Bob

[Texas Zephyr]

1butlerhawk

My problem concerns a short section of track.  For some reason I have it wired in two places and the wires reun directly to the X and Y terminals on the Atlas Controller which is connected to the power source.

If the layout is properly wired, that would indicate that it is a reversing section (reversing loop or wye). 

I cannot explain why it would develop a short or other issues over a year of unuse.  But, common wire schemes can do strange things if one of the "common" wires come loose.  So that is the first thing I would check.  Make certain all the wires are really connected, not just hanging on by a piece of insulation.

My next guess is that some dust - dirt - or moisture got into the unit and is causing it to behave that way.  You could test this with a multi-meter directly off the screws on the Atlas Controller.

[BroadwayLion]

Manke sure that the left rail is consistantly wired to the same terminal, and that the right rail is wired to the other terminal. Trace these you with your fingers all the way around the layout. If you pass through a "reversing loop" your finger will end up on the wrong rail. You will need more gaps and controls to fix this situation.

Otherwise, wiring is NOT all that complicated...

ROAR

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

Is that short section of track a wye or reverse loop? That might be the reason you hooked it up to the x and y. You might have too many sets of wires to that section. Also you should clean your track if you haven’t used it in a long time.

Maybe this diagram can help.

[1butlerhawk]

I posted this question a bit earlier, but it apparently was not accepted.  My problem concerns a short section of track.  For some reason I have it wired in two places and the wires reun directly to the X and Y terminals on the Atlas Controller which is connected to the power source.  I have to run the train on this track section by having the Controller in the Cab B center postion; the Cab selector on B and must run the train by using the Controller direction switch.  When running the train (which incidently does not run well) the power source overload light comes on from time to time - perhaps a short, but if so I do not know how to find such a short.  This is the only wiring in my layout hooked up to the X and Y Controller terminals.  The rest of my layout I operate with Atlas Selectors.  I would like to wire this section of track the same way as the rest of the layout, but frankly I do not remember how I did this.  My age (85) must be catching up to me so I do need some help; the other problem is that I did no work or used the layout for over a year.  Any help you may give me will be most appreciated.  Thank you very much.