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Automatic blocking system using DPDT Relays, and capacitor. Sparking wheels, what's wrong with my wiring?

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  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: New Jersey
  • 201 posts
Automatic blocking system using DPDT Relays, and capacitor. Sparking wheels, what's wrong with my wiring?
Posted by lionel2986 on Friday, December 27, 2013 10:19 PM

Hello!

My last post on this subject was very helpful, and I thank all of those that contributed. I am so close to getting this right! I just need to figure out how to wire my capacitor. I think I damaged my first DPDT relay. The terminals that send power to my signal lights work, but I no longer have power going to the insulated center rail when the signal is green. I have power going to the relay, but it is not leaving the relay. I think my capacitor burned something on this side of the DPDT system.

I have read on other forums that a resistor should be used someplace. Right now my capacitor is connected directly to the + and - posts on my bridge rectifier. When a car enters the next block, I get lots of sparks on the ground rails. I'm not sure if I have sparks on the center rail because it is difficult to see. Can someone please explain to me how I should wire my capacitor? I did not have this problem before I installed it, but I had relay chatter. I no longer have relay chatter, but I have sparks and my first relay seems to have burnt out somewhere inside the relay on the center rail power supply side.

As always, thank you for your help!

(Attached is a photo. The insulated ground rail supply is connected to the terminal on the bridge rectifier that is not visible in the photo because it is behind the capacitor.)

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