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Wiring a Fastrack Layout

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  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 98 posts
Wiring a Fastrack Layout
Posted by scrambler81 on Thursday, November 25, 2010 7:01 AM

 I'm so confused. First, the basics: I've a got a large, "L" shaped oval with two smaller ovals at each end, and 1 long siding running along from one end to the other. The plan was to isolate the long siding, one side of one oval, as well as a short stub siding inside of that small oval. I also wanted to separate one side of the layout from the other, so I could run two trains with two transformers. For simplicity, I put all of the blocks on one end of the layout. As recommended by the hobby shop, I used an Atlas connector on/off switch to control the blocks. So far, I've only wired the half with the blocks. I put a small Minuteman switcher on the track, and ran it around for a while, it seemed fine. When I backed it through the switches to the stub siding, it shorted out. I reversed the wiring to the Atlas switch, and the short seemed to clear up, however, every time it runs through a turnout it shuts down and the lights on three of the 4 turnouts shut off. I can't seem to figure out what I did wrong. Any ideas? Guesses?

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: pittsburgh pa.
  • 85 posts
Posted by chad tm5000/trainstation on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:51 AM

hi

i have a idea try not to reverse the wires cause thats a fire waiting to happen if your running a 80 watt transformer cool connect wire every 2 to 3 foot  to the main transformer should be ok

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 98 posts
Posted by scrambler81 on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 4:32 PM

 Thanks, but I did get it straightened out. Everything seems to work well now, except when it moves from one transformer to the other it stumbles for a second, then it gains back speed.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:15 PM

Don't run from one transformer to the other.  Switch the blocks as necessary to the same transformer.

Bob Nelson

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