Backman EZ track terminal plug in wires

[mwoky]

Am building my first layout with Bachman EZ track and useing there straight and curved terminal sections for my power source. Have approxiamtely 80 ft of track with the 'terminal" track about every five feet.

 Have a MRC model 1370 for my power source.

 Have been testing each section of track individually at each "terminal by pluging in the connector and then running the two red wires to the two bottom post's on the right side of the  MRC transformer.

 So far I've had disappointing results.  At the first one the engine didn't respond in either direction.  At the second one the engine ran about 7ft backwards  but could not get it to reverse and move forward.  At the third "terminal  the engine moved about a inch foward and then stopped. At that time the "red" inddicator light went out on the MRC as the power was at about 80%.

 I hace checked all the Bachman plug in's and they all appear to be setted solidly

It appears to me that at the 1st one there is no power going to the rails,; at the second there is only power going to one rail,; and at the third they must be somekind of short?? !@!

 Has anyone else had problems with these connectors?  and if so is there a way to get new replacements from Bachman.

 thanks  Mike

[jeffrey-wimberly]

#1, clean your track. I've had track that was dirty right out of the package, and that's not just Bachmann, it's all track manufacturers. The track has some kind of film on it that's almost like a very light coating of oil. #2, clean your locos wheels and check the pickups. The fact that it's happening on many sections seems to indicate that your problem lies with the loco. #3, you're better off soldering the wires to the rails. Been there and done that.

[mwoky]

Thanks,, have already cleaned track  forgot to mention that.  but will check loco

[UP2CSX]

Check the rail joiners to make sure they are well seated and making contact with both sides of the rail on each section. If you use a volt/ohm meter, you shuld be able to see exactly what voltage is appearing where. I really don't think it's the track connector. I have one I'm using as temporary power on about 50 feet of track and it's just one connector for the whole shebang. My VOM says I'm getting consistent voltage even on the side furthest from the connection. A terminal track every five feet should be supplying plenty of juice so I suspect the track isn't conducting too well. Since you've already cleaned the rails, the next logical place to look is rail joiners.

[2Traxx]

I run E-Z track and never had this problem.  Make sure tha the wires from the track hook up are wired to the DC terminals on the MRC.  If the train doesn't run the dirction that you think it should turn the track connector around (flip it over). 

Bill

[NeO6874]

This might just be me, but aren't the DC connectors the ones on the LEFT side of the MRC powerpacks (when looking at it from the rear, where the connectors are)?  I don't have a 1370 to check this out with though, so I might just be rambling on.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My MRC pack has the track connectors to the left AND right of the AC connectors. Of course that's normal for the 280.