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Turnout Electrical Problems

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  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, August 26, 2017 6:55 PM

Ah, Atlas Custom Line.  What many OLD PEOPLE dealt with.

That big blob of black plastic is non-conductive.

Consider that concept when you run a locomotive through a switch.

Should you happen to be using Custom Line track switches.  

I should say that, a half-century ago, the term "Custom Line" kind of indicated cutting edge.  Sorta like rapidly spinning propeller blades.

Hey.  We worked with what we had (ya young whipper-snapper)!

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, August 26, 2017 4:29 PM

Are the turnouts all Atlas....for sure?

Are they Atlas Custom Line turnouts?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, August 26, 2017 3:40 PM

Lets make sure we are talking about the same part of the turnout

The frog is not just that pointy thing but the rails just to the left of it.  In your other thread about wiring turnouts, Randy suggested frog juicers and Ed suggested Caboose 220S ground throws otherwise it is electrically dead rail.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/264656/2989199.aspx#2989199

Is it related to the turnout size 4,6, or 8?  The bigger the number the longer the frog.  I have a Bachmann 45 tonner, no sound, who's headlight flickers on one of my Wathers #5's but not the other #5's or the #4's. 

If you are not going to power the frog, then you are going to add some sort of keep alive capacitor to your engines.  This assumes that the power pickup from the wheels to the decoder isn't marginal and the source of your problems.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, August 26, 2017 3:26 PM

Not familiar with the turnouts but assuming metal powered frogs since some work.

Did you check with your multimeter for power? Even if plastic frogs, check the rails with your meter.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • 245 posts
Turnout Electrical Problems
Posted by starman on Saturday, August 26, 2017 2:07 PM
I am using HO Atlas #6, code 100 turnouts with manually operated turnout machines.  I have installed many turnouts in a small yard.  I wired all three ends of each turnout to my buss line, as well as all track segments.  My engines (one steam and one diesel) will travel over some of the turnouts without any electrical problem; however, when my engines travel over the other turnouts, I lose power.  The problem seems to occur when my engines pass over some of the frogs (I think that is what you call them).  Why do some turnouts cause me problems and some do not?  What can I do to solve the problem I am having with problem turnouts?
 
Thanks for your comments and help.
 
Jack

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