Atlas snap switch no working

[Anonymous]

I am new to the model railroading hobby and I started with the prodigy Advance DCC system which has 14.5 volts of output to power my HO layout. However, when I hook the power to the Atlas snap switch, the turnout does not work. I've checked the wires and it is wired correctly. I put a test light on the conections and it lights when the button is pushed. What could be the problem? I also tried it on a second switch.

[jecorbett]

I've been wiring my Atlas turnouts for the past week. I have a fairly large layout. I probably have encountered about every problem you can have with them so hopefully these suggestions will help. I am assuming you are using the surface mounted switch machines which attach to the side of the track and are prewired with green, red, and black wires. First, the correct way to wire using Atlas switch controls is to wire the black wire to the center terminal on the switch control, and the green and red to the left and right terminals. Assuming you have done this correctly, the next thing to do is determine if you have a loose connection and that can occur at several places.

When I debug my connections I start closest to the turnout and work my way back to the power pack. To do this I unhook the terminal wires from their hook up to the switch box. I then touch the end of one wire to the center terminal and the other wire to the left terminal while simultaneously pressing the button in the left position. Repeat this with the right terminal. If you can get the switch to move back and forth this way, you will know your switch machine is working. If it doesn't your problem is at the switch machine and we'll get to that later.

Next you need to determine if the problem is in the control box. You didn't say whether you had multiple switch boxes connected together which you can do with Atlas. Assuming you have only one hooked up, and you can get the switch to move when you touch the wires to the top terminals but not when you hook up the wires to the side terminals, you might have a bad control box. I think I have encountered one or two over the years. There is an internal circuit in the Atlas boxes which attaches one side terminal (I think it is the top one) to the center top terminal. The other side terminal attaches to both the left and right. Once in a great while you will encounter a switch box with a break in the internal circuit. The easiest way to check that is to substitute another switch box and see if you still have the problem. If you have multiple switch boxes set up in a row, make sure all your connecting screws are in place and tight. There will be 4 screws at each junction. Just today I strung seven boxes together and discovered I had left one screw off in the middle of the row.

Another possible problem is if you are using stranded wire and even a single strand is loose and touching the adjacent terminal post. This will cause a short circuit. Check your attachments everywhere you have wires attached.

If you have checked everything else out, the problem may be with the switch machine itself or the way it is attached. I have found that foam roadbed causes friction with the throwbar which does not allow the switch to move when it receives power. If you hear a hum but get no movement when you pu***he button, that could be your problem. I found on several of my turnouts, I had to notch out a piece of roadbed so the throwbar could move back and forth freely. The problem could also be in the switch itself although you did say you tried more than one switch so that makes that less likely. The Atlas switch machines are very delicate and hand assembled and once in a while, one of the very fine internal wires gets disconnected from the circuit board. If you are adventuresome enough you can open it up to check the internal workings. I have found though that once I open them up, there is less than a 50-50 chance I am going to get it put back together in working order. I do that as a last resort.

Try some of these things and see if it fixes your problem. If not, I might have a few more suggestions.