The first time I power up my layout and problems. I have a Kato #6 remote right hand turnout going off the main line and connected to a a Kato #6 remote left hand switch which leads into my small switching yard.
The problem is that, although the locomotive will run through the right hand turnout off the main line, onto a short spur or back onto the main line again, when I throw the switch to allow it to enter the left hand turnout, it will not move. Nothing placed anywhere on the yard that is entered through that left hand turnout will move.
I had thought that the Kato #6s routed power in the direction the turnout was set to direct the loco. Do I possibly have a bad turnout, or is something else going on here.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I'm not familiar with Kato track, but usually power routing switches that rely on the contact between the switch points and the rails they're contacting don't provide a really reliable electrical path. Eventually any small amount of dust or debris that finds it's way into our track will interrupt that path.
You might try placing a locomotive in the affected area, and jiggle the points with you finger to see it that creates at least an intermittent connection. If not, it may not be a power routing switch.
That's kind of a general answer, not knowing Kato track specifically. Dan
Your posts are delayed in moderation, so I will give it a bump.
Never used Katos, This article says that power routing can be adjusted to the straight path or the diverging path or both.
A $6 Harbor Freight voltmeter is a valuable tool to find out where the electrons stop flowing.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Without seeing a wiring / track diagram, it's hard to say. You have to be sure there's a power connection to the track at the switch end, so power can go to both possible track directions.
If you turn them upside-down, you'll see Kato switches have two small screws on the bottom edge, with four holes. As they come from the factory, the screws are in the two holes that make the turnout 'power routing'. Moving them to the other two make them non-power routing, which has some advantages. Power flows through to all tracks, plus the switches can then work as spring switches.
If nothing else, you might try changing the screws on the turnouts and see what happens.
I need to go to work, so I do not have time to draw a diagram of options.
Do not move the screws.
Kato #6 tunouts are power routing, but not like Walthers/Shinohara or Peco. They use different current flow.
To fix this, add another power feeder to the tail end of the spur, but you will lose power routing to the tail spur.
There are other options. Let me know if you want drawings and more suggestions.
Also, are these HO or N scale?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
BigDaddyNever used Katos, This article says that power routing can be adjusted to the straight path or the diverging path or both.
That's only the N-scale ones, the manual HO ones only have the four holes and two screws so it's either power routing like any other power-routing turnout, or non-power routing so both legs are 'live'. The electric ones use two two-pin plugs to make the change.
BTW with Kato a lot of info is normally listed on the cardstock backing that the clear plastic 'blister' with the turnout or track inside is attached to. On some cases the backing is a folded piece of cardstock with the info on the inside, so it's easy to miss that it's there.
Someone mention making a adjustment to the turnout for direction of power routing on a Kato turnout. This can only be done on a #4 Kato turnout.It has screws at the bottom for power routing selection.The number #6 Kato turnout does not have this feature. If I remember correctly the power feeding into the #6 turnout needs to start at the points for straight through or diverging. Power routing will not work feeding the turnout from the wrong side. So additional feeders to the track where its dead is needed.
LION a more direct approach takes!
LION gaps all tracks, uses relays to power as LION wants power to power.
LION runs SUBWAY layout. Maine double crossover switch at 242nd Street terminal is completely gapped out and unpowered. Why bother with figuring out the power of the switch. It has no power at all. Subway with 48 wheel pick-up will glide right over it. Power is routed from GRS interlocking machine. If in coming line is aligned for track 1, then track 1 has power. If aligned for track 2, then track 2 has power. Both therminal tracks are gapped with a rectifyer so only outbound alignments will receiive power depending on track alignments. Even if track alignments are correct for an outbound train it cannot leave the terminal until the home signal is manually cleared by the interlocking machine.
See.... SIMPLE. Even a Leopard can do it.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BroadwayLionSee.... SIMPLE. Even a Leopard can do it.
It may be simple for a leopard, or a lion, but for someone with my limited intelligence, it sounds like Greek. And I don't know Greek.
RBWhale, while I don't use Kato track, I did integrate a Kato track crossover into my layout. I also had trouble with the power. I never did take the time to solve it, so it basically became an expensive section of straight track with the crossover never used.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
In HO, the Unitrack No.6 manual turnout uses two screws underneath the turnout to change from the factory setting of power routing to being non-power routing. The No.6 electric turnout uses two 2-pin plugs on the side of the turnout to make the change. It's usually the first thing I do when I get a new No.6, there isn't (as far as I can see) any advantage to the power routing setting. I'd suggest anyone having problem with Kato turnouts try adjusting the power routing setting to non-power routing and see if that helps.
Interlocking machine of LION:
I mean really, how hard can that be. And during rush hour only five leavers are needed to manage the entire railroad.
Levers 1 & 2 control the cross over. Lever 3 clears the home signal at Dyckman Street IF AND ONLY IF lever 1 is lined to an open track. (Interlocking you sea)
If the Dyckman Street lever is reversed (cleared for movement) then the home signal at Botanic Garden cannot display a proceed signal. The Dyckman Street signal must display RED befor Botanic Garden can show a Green Signal.
Without this bit of interlocking a train could leave Garden, blow past Dyckman and Push the train sitting at 242nd Street onto the floor.
Lever 2 will align the departure track, either platform 1 or platform 2, but in either case the tran cannot move until the tower operator clears the Home Signal.
Lever 35 clears track 1, and Lever 36 clears track 2. Levers 35 and 36 can not both be cleard at the same time. They are intfgernally interlocked. Same deal with levers 1 & 2.
So ROAR
Thank you, everyone for all of the suggestions. I may just take the suggestion to use gaps (or insulated joiners) and feed each section, It is a small layout so it wioll not be too timeconsuming. And I will have my voltmeter handy.
I appreciate all the help
rb whale