I have several above switch machines on my way into the mountains as it would have been hard to place my Tortouse machines.
One of the machine decided no longer to throw the switch. It has been in for 8 years and working fine. I am using push button switches on my control panel.
I tested the AC voltage across several other machines and I am getting a reading of 17 vac across the two posts of each push button. The one that is not working is reading zero.
Is this a wiring problem or a burnt out switch machine? The wiring seems good and as I mentioned it has been in for a loog time.
Harold
Have you tested the voltage at the push buttons?
I assume these are twin-coil machines, either Atlas or Peco. Are you using a capacitive discharge circuit?
If you press and hold down the button for the turnout that's not working, can you then at the same time operate a different turnout?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The voltage I mentioned is at the push buttons. Do I need to push a button to get a different reading? It is an Atlas Swicth machine. I will try the last thing this afternoon and will let you know. What does that show me?
If I hold down the button on the switch that does not work it has No Effect on the other machines.
Assuming that all of your turnouts and buttons are connected in parallel to the same supply, if one of the switch machines "fries," it will generally consume most of the power on the circuit and other machines won't work, either. A broken wire, on the the other hand, will not affect other turnouts.
What kind of buttons are you using? The Atlas buttons have, in the past, gotten a reputation for sticking in the ON position and burning up machines.
How easy is it to swap either the button or the switch machine that isn't working?
No. The buttons are Radio Shack push buttons.
hwolfIs this a wiring problem or a burnt out switch machine? The wiring seems good and as I mentioned it has been in for a loog time.
Can't tell from the information. Reading the voltage across the button is reading it through the switch machine - either a wiring problem or a burnt out switch machine could cause the break in the circuit causing you to not read any volatage at the button. My guess would also be a burnt out switch machine. Someone likely held the button down too long or the button could have stuck. I would suggest getting a capacitor discharge circuit to protect your switch machines fro that possibilty.
Which terminals are you reading across? There should be one wire from the poer supply that goes to both pushbuttons, and another wire from the power supply that goes directly to the center terminal on the switch machine. Across these wires you should ALWAYS have power as long as the supply is turned on. No power there at one set of buttons but power there at another set of buttons is a wiring issue between the power supply and the buttons with no power. No power there for ANY buttons is a power suppyl problem. Then there should be one wire each from the pair of pushbuttons going to the outer terminals of the switch machine. Across these you should NEVER see power. Between the common (the power supply lead that does not connect to any pushbuttons) and one of these terminals you should only see power when the button is pressed down - but do not test this with the switch machine connected, holding down the button will burn it out. You can test each button by turning off the power (important!) and putting your meter in continuity mode. Touch the leads to both pins of a pushbutton, should be open. Press the button, it should be closed. But of there is no voltage in to the buttons from the power supply, I think you found the problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Just from my own experience, I'm going to guess it's a loose wire that was accidentally left unsoldered.
How far apart are the button and the machines? Are the machines surface-mounted and reasonably easy to get to? You could try running temporary wires. If that restores operations, you've got a bad wire somewhere. If not, it's either a defective button or a burned out machine. I'd go buy one of each, try some part-swapping and at worst you'll have a spare in case it ever happens again.