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[quote user="rrinker"] I'd consider pickign one, one that runs best, and run it at crawl speed over the entire layout. If it shorts or stalls, fix that area - it could be dirty track if it stalls, or wheel or track gauge problems, or even just some debris like a lost track nail if it shorts. Under no circumstance barring a failure in the loco itself should a single typical HO loco overload the Zephyr. [/quote] While I'll admit my track doesn't have the best track record (and is still far from perfect), the tests detailed at the bottom of page 1 and the original problem were conducted on track which no locomotive has had problems with. I've had both DC and DCC locomotives crawling at slow-speed switching and have not seen a single short. During the tests when I was able to reproduce the problem, all of my power that I've had intermittent shorting problems with (an Atlas SD35) and all DC locomotives were off the tracks. No single locomotive has overloaded the Zephyr during my tests - I was only able to accomplish that with two locomotives at almost full throttle and another two going from off to full throttle quickly, supporting your theory below about an overload. [quote user="rrinker"]  As for 0's or 1's, I suspect it takes some very specific conditions to get 1's instead of 0's. I have no idea what the threshold would be, but anything over 2.5 amps is an overload - but a short is also drawing over 2.5 amps. I suspect the difference would be in how fast the excessive current ramps of - slowly reaching and then exceeding 2.5 amps would be the overlaod and 1's, sudden increase would be a short and the 0's. This is all a guess on my part, I have no wy to know how the code inside the Zephyr actually works. <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote] Assuming your guess and my theory about the Zephyr confusing a quick overload for a short are correct, would dividing the layout into four power districts with a PM42 solve the problem? Or do I actually have a power shortage?
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