A lighted passenger car would do the same. A good idea to check the area out.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
eds-trains I have been working on my small 5’ x 12’ HO layout for about 10 years. It is powered by 16 ACV output from aModel Rectifier Corp. Dual Loco transformer connected to a NCE DCC 5 amp SB3a smart booster. The booster is connected to a DCC Specialties PSX-1 power shield circuit breaker before connecting to 14 awg buss. 20 awg feeders are spaced every 3 feet +/-. The trains had been working great up until 6 months ago. We were about to move so I had to take everything down and disconnect all electrical components and box them for the move. As it turned out the house selling deal fell through twice and we decided to stay put. I have since reconstructed the layout and have been running trains. Everything seemed to be ok except for a little hesitation of the locos on the track in the center of the layout where I have an interchange. Now the hesitation has become stalls. This starts about 2’ to 3’ both before and after the interchange. I have added feeders to these areas and have very carefully cleaned the track and wheel sets with very little change. I have checked the output voltage at the booster (13.9 ACV) and along the track where the stalls occure (13.7 ACV) using my digital multimeter. However, I don’t have anything to determine current draw at these locations. Without have much else to do during these crazy times, I’m very frustrated. I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions from my Model railroad family. Stay Well Ed
I have been working on my small 5’ x 12’ HO layout for about 10 years. It is powered by 16 ACV output from aModel Rectifier Corp. Dual Loco transformer connected to a NCE DCC 5 amp SB3a smart booster. The booster is connected to a DCC Specialties PSX-1 power shield circuit breaker before connecting to 14 awg buss.
20 awg feeders are spaced every 3 feet +/-.
The trains had been working great up until 6 months ago. We were about to move so I had to take everything down and disconnect all electrical components and box them for the move. As it turned out the house selling deal fell through twice and we decided to stay put. I have since reconstructed the layout and have been running trains.
Everything seemed to be ok except for a little hesitation of the locos on the track in the center of the layout where I have an interchange. Now the hesitation has become stalls. This starts about 2’ to 3’ both before and after the interchange.
I have added feeders to these areas and have very carefully cleaned the track and wheel sets with very little change. I have checked the output voltage at the booster (13.9 ACV) and along the track where the stalls occure (13.7 ACV) using my digital multimeter. However, I don’t have anything to determine current draw at these locations.
Without have much else to do during these crazy times, I’m very frustrated. I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions from my Model railroad family.
Stay Well
Ed
Sorry but I had to make it more readable.
You mention Interchange as if there is something special about wiring an Interchange. Did you disconnect any feeders in prep for the move? Is there any indication this is a short?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I have been working on my small 5’ x 12’ HO layout for about 10 years. It is powered by 16 ACV output from a
Model Rectifier Corp. Dual Loco transformer connected to a NCE DCC 5 amp SB3a smart booster. The booster
is connected to a DCC Specialties PSX-1 power shield circuit breaker before connecting to 14 awg buss.
The trains had been working great up until 6 months ago. We were about to move so I had to take everything
down and disconnect all electrical components and box them for the move. As it turned out the house selling
deal fell through twice and we decided to stay put. I have since reconstructed the layout and have been
running trains. Everything seemed to be ok except for a little hesitation of the locos on the track in the center
of the layout where I have an interchange. Now the hesitation has become stalls. This starts about 2’ to 3’ both
before and after the interchange. I have added feeders to these areas and have very carefully cleaned the
track and wheel sets with very little change. I have checked the output voltage at the booster (13.9 ACV) and
along the track where the stalls occure (13.7 ACV) using my digital multimeter. However, I don’t have anything to
determine current draw at these locations. Without have much else to do during these crazy times, I’m very
frustrated. I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions from my Model railroad family.