Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Track electrical issue

8087 views
41 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, August 8, 2013 4:10 PM

Paul, if your track plan matches that track diagram that I drew, then you have created a reverse loop section of track.  You need to gap the ends of the divergent track on each of those two turnouts.  Then, install an auto-reverser or a DPDT switch that you can throw manually in order to match polarities inside that reversing section of track.

Give us a holler if that doesn't make sense to you.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vail, AZ
  • 1,943 posts
Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Thursday, August 8, 2013 11:00 AM

The reverse loop is the issue.  Not the track.

You need to gap the ends of the reversing section, and put in a switch or an autoreverser to make it work.  It's not hard once you understand it.

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 23 posts
Posted by Paul1261 on Thursday, August 8, 2013 8:49 AM

Rich,

DCC ,however I tried both DCC & DC locomotives that I have and both power packs. No power. I originally started with EZ-Track and the remote turnouts w/o the wiring which was great in tight spots. bad thing was I could not can the radius on the track I required for the layout so I took apart the EZ-Track,or least the ones that did not break added Flex track and started new. I took a magnifying glass and check every connector, solder joint, vacuum any debris...

 

Now I wish just stayed with the EZ-track it worked!. Received tips on how to weather the bed and to build -up the area around the track to give it the right proportions with the scenery & buildings. More money wasted.

 

any ideas?

Thanks again

 

Paul

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 4:04 PM

Paul,

Are you operating in DC or DCC?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 23 posts
Posted by Paul1261 on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 3:08 PM

Thanks Rich

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 2:57 PM

Then, you have a reversing section, a section of track where reverse polarities meet causing a short.

You need to gap this section of track at both ends, and reverse polarities with some form of switch.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 23 posts
Posted by Paul1261 on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 2:06 PM

yes it does

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, August 5, 2013 4:50 PM

Does your dissecting oval look something like this?

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 2,616 posts
Posted by peahrens on Monday, August 5, 2013 4:45 PM

Be sure any track end bumper that is all metal (such as Tomar) is isolated with insulated rail joiners on bot rails.  These are direct shorts if connected with metal joiners to both rails.

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Monday, August 5, 2013 4:32 PM

Based on your "dissecting" verbiage, I'd say you have created a reversing section.

Try disconnecting the dissecting track and see if your problem goes away.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 23 posts
Posted by Paul1261 on Monday, August 5, 2013 3:44 PM

My track plan is a 12 x 4 oval with (2) remote turn outs dissecting the middle with a bridge and the other (2 remotes) are 90 degrees going into a rail yard and coal plant both ending with bumpers.

Just got back into trains after 25 years. stupid question my remote turnouts are not wired yet, this should not matter?

 

Thanks

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Monday, August 5, 2013 3:16 PM

We need to see a track plan in order to know what might be wrong.

If your track is nothing but a single line running in a loop, there's no reason it should be shorted provided you have only one set of power leads.  If you have more than one set, you may have crossed the wires.

Any crossovers from one line to another through turnouts?   A reverse loop?  Anything but a single loop of track could have introduced an electrical short.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 23 posts
Track electrical issue
Posted by Paul1261 on Monday, August 5, 2013 2:33 PM

Finally finished my lay-out( 6 months in the making I travel allot) and when I connected the power supply the locomotives did not run. I had EZ-track which I used (took the bed off) and flex track. All connections were soldered with electrical solder. I soldered the wire connections directly to the track then I tried a track which is in the layout with the plug connector too, both did not work. Trying to trouble shoot. I tried all 3 EZ command controls and the only thing that was different was all three power lights were blinking fast?Thank never happened before. manual did not help either.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Paul

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!