I am using an NCE PowerCab on Kato Unitrack and am having a strange time with the inability to get power to sidings unless the switch to that siding is lined for it.
If I have two trains running on the main, none of my locos get power on a siding unless the proper switch is lined that way. Once I do that the siding gets power, the main continues to operate and if I re-line with switch on the main the siding contunues to get power. It's only at first that there is no power.
It is N scale, if that makes any difference, and a very small layout, about 6 x 10. Any thoughts?
I should note that I do have a double crossover, which I understood should be wired to permit any routings, and that none of the switches on the layout are using power.
Take a look at the Kato section of the Wiring for DCC web site. It my answer your question.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_kato.htm
Rich
Alton Junction
Kato switches are power routing. Power routing means they work exactly as you describe. Power is fed to the route that the switch is moved to. power is dead to the other track. They have the option of being non power routing by changing the screw on the bottom. Instructions are included with their track.
The best practice is to add feeders to the divergent route. That way no matter which way the switch is thrown, power will always be fed to the track beyond the switch.
Martin Myers
But that is a good way to park a locomotive and have it NOT draw power when the switch is thrown back the other way.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
OP states that the only time the siding has no power is at the startup. Once he has thrown the turnout to the divergent route the siding has power, and after he has thrown the turnout back to the main, the siding still has power. Something doesn't make sense.
Kato switches normally have two holes on the bottom of the switch, with a screw in one hole. As it comes from the factory, the screw is in the hole that makes the switch 'power routing', meaning power only goes to the track the switch is lined for. If you remove the screw and put it in the other hole, the switch becomes 'non power routing' and power goes to both tracks regardless how the switch points are lined up.
However, why the OP is getting the result he describes is baffling.
BTW one advantage to the non power routing setting is that the switch can then act as a spring switch, so for example you can leave the switch set for the mainline, and the engine in the siding can go onto the main without having to throw the switch first for the siding, then back again to the main.
Thanks Stix. There don't seem to be any holes on the bottom of the first one I looked at. There are two screws but they simply appear to be holding the bottom plate in place. Sounds like a stupid question, but are you referring to something under that plate?
Wblock,
Click on the link and scroll down to page two (2) read the Note* that is in Red, it may explain why Your turnouts are behaving the way You describe. It gives You in detail with diagrams, on how to adjust the turnout for power routing/non power routing:
http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/pubs/AppNote%20Unitrack%20Turnouts.pdf
Take Care!
Frank
wblock Thanks Stix. There don't seem to be any holes on the bottom of the first one I looked at. There are two screws but they simply appear to be holding the bottom plate in place. Sounds like a stupid question, but are you referring to something under that plate?
Not a stupid question at all. I'm going to guess that you have #6 turnouts. Something no one pointed out is that the aforementioned screws are only on the #4 turnouts, the #6 tunrouts are always power routing with no provision to change. You will either have to run power to the sidings or add jumpers inside the turnouts for the sidings to be constantly powered.
I don't know these turnouts at all. So, I have to ask this question on behalf of the OP.
Do the turnouts route the power directly through the frog to the two inner rails simultaneously, or are the two inner rails isolated, so that one is dead while the other is powered?
This is important, because in a "both rails powered" situation, the track isn't dead, it's simply powered with the same polarity as the outer rails. If this is the case, adding a jumper to keep the rails powered would result in a dead short unless the turnout is insulated with a plastic rail joiner or a gap.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleyDo the turnouts route the power directly through the frog to the two inner rails simultaneously, or are the two inner rails isolated, so that one is dead while the other is powered?
The inner rails are isolated, with one being dead while the other is powered.