Thanks Randy. So are you saying that IF the short is in the DCS 100 that'll be obvious by it's malfunctioning (improper Led messages/alarm beeps) BEFORE and signals go through the (now absent) track wires from the 100? I understand the isolating each PSX to see what happens next part.
I think my buddy may have done that as he was removing and replacing wires. He'd just driven about 250 miles when he was nice enough to swing by so I didn't ask too many questions yet. Tomorrow though.
I'll get back and post when and if...
Thank you.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Start pulling back bit by bit. Disconnect the track wires out of the DCS100. See if it comes up normally with no short. If that's OK hook up the first PSX, disconnect the wires to the track. Gradually add stuff back until it dies - you found the location of the problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Mr. B. The railroad ran for about a week just fine after the AR install but it was the lst thing I checked. It seems to be hooked up correctly and it's definitely not caused by running a train across the gaps. Although they ARE parallel instead of staggered only one loco can turn on that arm and nothing crosses both sides at the same time. So far it's nothing that can be determined visually...
How long after you wired up the reverser for the wye did these problems start? Since that's the most recent addition, it's the most likely suspect as well.
Check not only the wires going to the track, but also the wires going to the PSX's. Since you have a system-wide failure, it's more likely to be early in the wiring chain.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi. I've tried to make this request for help as concise as my limited technical/electrical knowledge will allow. My buddy will come over tomorrow (Tues.) to help and bring some spare gear/cables to swap out. So I may not be able to respond with any conviction until then.
He did think it might be the Command Station that's malfunctioning but all lights seem correct. He pulled some wires from the C.S. hookups and thinks he isolated it but we'll confirm that when he swaps out with his gear.
Here goes. Thanks for your help!
I have a Super Chief Digitrax system using DT400R throttle.
I have been running without issues for a long time but suddenly, I'm experiencing short circuit indicators on my PSX s and it shuts down BOTH the main and yard. They are on separate busses and power districts are in place via gaps in the tracks.
I've trouble shot the layout wiring (and don't think that's the issue anyway-all recent, new installation but in use for months to 2 yrs. depending on the section. The only NEW addition was an AR PSX board for a wye. The wye is hand thrown for now so no switch motor involved.
Here are the behaviors I and fellow troubleshooters have seen:
.01 I have three separate power districts. The main yard and the mainline are separately bused (bussed) but there is an additional industrial yard that is only fed via a feeder from the mainlline as we're about to install that buss. Everything previously seemed to get enough current prior to these problems:
l. For a couple of hours of troubleshooting, the whole layout would shut down and show a short on the PSXs. It would re-set and come back on after about 4 min. or so. AFTER about 2 hrs. the system (track power) would shout down (show a short) and NOT come back on after the 4 min. That's when we ceased and desisted.
It does not seem to be a thermal issue with the command station. Nothing is hot or even warm and this has not been a past issue.
2. LOCOMOTIVE additional: I just received a new locomotive. It ran perfectly for a day and a night but when we started experiencing this system shut down stuff, whenever I placed the loco on the track it shorted out the whole railroad (again with gapped separate power districts-and no gaps had closed, etc.) This loco WAS sitting on the track when I lst powered up my system. It's got QSI sound and is of the Powerhouse Broadway LImited Series. Is this some weird coincidence? It ran great until then. Is the QSI sound system likely to pull a lot more current than my other sound decoders?
I have of course removed the loco from the track and we still experience the same problems. I get no need a new battery alarms although this one has been in the command station for 2 yrs. or so with light system use. I'm going to swap it out but have no idea if that could be the problem without an alarm sounding. Yes? No?
3.The only recent CV or OPswitch changes I have recently made are:
#39 OP to get rid of a constant slot-max message and reset decoders/addresses, etc.
#05 as recommended by the manual to reduce the green light's 8 blinks to 4 which I never got around to doing until we experienced the system (track power) shut down. The command station does not ever shut down. Only track power.
4. I CAN NOW bring up track power on my throttle but all I get is pulsing and headlight flashing on the locos. The locos make a "clicking/pulsating" noise once about every second or so.
TUES. : Tomorrow my DCC expert buddy will come over with a spare command station (one without feedback) and spare cable and we'll swap out the batter. Probably should by now anyway even without the alarm sounding?
ANY feedback, advice, diagnostics would be greatly appreciated. I have more locos arriving in a day or two and really would like to test them out.
It'll be a bummer if I have to send the Command Station in to Digitrax for a repair.