Hm ... I fretted a few weeks and now that I brought it up here I found time to go fix it. A good rewire (reliability should be better now) and voila. Reminds me I should get a package of heat shrink tubing.
Got me excited enough to finally try a new computer for layout control (my 2007 IBM ThinkPad finally quit booting up with a "Fan Error" message at startup) and did that too.
Ok back to the train room now for some scenicking.
For those of us in cold weather climes this is change of season time, meaning changes in heating, changes in dryness, and so on. This can cause all manner of problems although it is usually with track or scenery. But if wiring was taut in winter and could be pulled apart now. And the worst wiring problems are a wire that is broken WITHIN the insulation, and the insulation looks fine.
Without knowing your circumstances I'd wonder about a bad or pulled-apart joint somewhere in the wiring.
That suggetion about the toggle or push button switch was a good one even though it was not the culprit here apparently. CDUs are tough on electrical contacts and switches, and I recall a clever circuit in MR years ago for a yard ladder so that instead of every electrical switch in the ladder powering the CDU, which is a conventional way to deal with the wiring matrix for yard ladders, the circuit was "backed up" so only one electrical switch controlled the CDU, while the others just routed its current. The designer said this was to concentrate the harm to one switch rather than many -- and he expected to have to replace it often.
Dave Nelson
Sure it can get quite frustrating at times. You'll figure it out, both the electrical and your family. I savor every memory made spending my time w/ my children. I would come home, walk in the door and "they were mine" 'til there 'lil heads hit their pillows. Loved that time w/ them and would give my wife a break! They don't care what you're doing, as long as you do it with them.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Thanks folks. Yes I need to keep this in perspective, don't I?
SPDT is fine, I checked with my multimeter.
I have to chalk this to "wiring problems" ... I am putting the circuit back together component by component and testing on the way. Hopefully it will work out ...
NP.
mbinsewi I forgive the "whine" Had my share. From a man old enough to be the grandpa of your toddler and 4 yr. old. Don't ever forget when the toddler was tickling your back, and answer those questions so your 4 yr old remembers how dad knows it all. And the wifey? You'll make it work. You'll figure out those wiring problems, us modelers always do, with a little help from fellow modelers. Don't ever forget, or regret, whats going on around you, as it does "all just go away". I don't appoligize for trying to be so "philosophical", as I meant it. Mike.
I forgive the "whine" Had my share. From a man old enough to be the grandpa of your toddler and 4 yr. old. Don't ever forget when the toddler was tickling your back, and answer those questions so your 4 yr old remembers how dad knows it all. And the wifey? You'll make it work. You'll figure out those wiring problems, us modelers always do, with a little help from fellow modelers. Don't ever forget, or regret, whats going on around you, as it does "all just go away".
I don't appoligize for trying to be so "philosophical", as I meant it.
Mike.
Actually,My late wife and I agreed to have "me time" since a marriage needs harmony and balance-there wasn't any need for me to hang on to her apron stings nor she my belt.We still loved each other and still manage to have 2 kids with family time and trips which resulted in a wonderful marriage.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
My You Tube
Check your SPDT (I'm assuming momentary) switch for burnt contacts. A CD unit puts out a good poke which might be continually arcing across the contacts inside the switch.
Even simpler .... try replacing the switch ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
// start whine
I have run into an electrical bug. In the analog section of my railroad, I have a capacitive discharge circuit driving two snap switch machines and one atlas snap relay, operated by a SPDT switch. The snap relay solely operates flashing LEDs on the panel and on trackside signals so I know when the secondary route is set.
A couple weeks ago it all stopped working. First I suspected the capacitor, as the whole thing was making sounds as if the power was too week. Replaced, no luck. Removed the CD circuit out of the loop and removed the two switches out. No luck. Suspected the relay. Removed it to bench test it, works fine.
It is such a pain to debug wiring under the table when I only get 15-20 minute blocks to work on the railroad while a toddler is tickling my back, a 4-year old is asking non stop questions, and the Mrs. is calling from above. Why can't this all just go away.
// end whine.