This laugh is on me, and I hope it saves someone else from some grief! I had just hooked up a new section of layout and was dismayed to have a short! I re-checked all my color coded wiring three times, OK so that;s not it...I removed the trains I had on display on the main and siding...still a short! I started checking all the turnouts...all good! Then I started removing cars I had pre-staged on the spurs....AHA! The very last car on a spur had a wheel off the insulator, leaning against the metal truck sideframe! To the RIP track with you! No more short! the moral is "Never give up!" Guaranteed it will be the last thing yu try, eh? John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
The sweet thing, John, is that you discovered the culprit. I had a similar instance a few months back when I was installing and wiring up some "live" turnouts for the first time.
It took me a little while to find the problem child but I found it. Since it was a learning experience I expected to make some mistakes along the way...and I didn't disappoint myself.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Hi!
Easily my "longest to solve" electrical problem was on my previous HO layout, wired for DC with a plethora of blocks and "fancy" wiring.
The short appeared after a couple of years on the 11x15 two level layout, which at first made me think it was NOT the wiring - as that had been in place successfully for some time. I had a number of sessions of trying to find the short which ended with me just walking out of the layout room (with extra high BP).
Finally, I decided to check out the wiring, and the problem (somewhat hidden from view) turned out to be a simple staple that I used to secure some feed wires under the main level (and over the lower level. The problem was, I secured two wires with the same staple, and eventually the staple wore thru the insulation of both wires, shorting them out.
In the new layout currently under construction, I am using staples in some areas to secure wires - but only ONE wire per staple!!!
The new layout is being wired for DCC, and hopefully I'll not repeat my mistakes.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
johncolleyGuaranteed it will be the last thing yu try, eh?
I hope you do quit after you find the problem!
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
The best way to secure wires is to use the standoff attachment like you would normally use so that the staple doesn't pinch the wire, but put the staple in parallel to the wire run. Then put a cable strap under the staple and around the wires. They are not metal and so will not short the wires even if the insulation is damaged, and they can be easily removed and reapplied if you need to add or change a wire.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
57th corrolary of Murphy's Law: If there are numerous possible causes for a problem, the cause will be the one you think least likely and therefore check last.
58th correlary: If you have just found and corrected a problem, another problem with similar symptoms will surface shortly after operation resumes. The cause, when found, will be entirely different.
My experience with the 57th correlary was a steam loco driver tire that had slipped just enough to cause an intermittent short on the side rods. (I HATE intermittent shorts!)
The 58th correlary showed up on a Co-Co catenary motor. First, it broke a (35 year old) Neoprene coupling between the traction motor and one truck's gear tower. After replacing the coupling it ran for about two minutes, then stopped abruptly. Took it to the bench, grumbling, "Should have replaced both couplings..." When I got the eight screws out and the shell off, I found that a manufacturer's solder joint had failed, so, no power pickup from the right-hand rail...
Yup, Murphy is alive and well.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan n September, 1964)
PhoebeVet, thanks for the neat tip. I use the plastic staple style with 2 nails from local Hdw store. But I will keep your idea in mind in case I run out or need to hang some wires out of the way. John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
I started out using that wire standoff attachment to staple the wires directly. It worked great but when working in difficult to access areas I would periodically hit the wire. Of course it was never one of the first staples along that wire. Then I tried those peel and stick snap open wire guides from Radio Shack. They worked well but never stayed attached. I tried puting a screw through them, but that was more trouble than it was worth. I looked at the items you use, but thought of all the places that it would be difficult to swing a hammer. Then one day I was standing in Radio Shack looking at the peel and stick cable strap mounts when it occurred to me that they weren't required; I could just use the staple...and I have never looked back. Be sure to use the long staples. I use the ones meant for installing ceiling tile.