Trace-a-short

[aartlib]

I just read a long thread on the Yahoo-NCE group about tracing a short (caused by a reversing loop that was not easily apparent.) by using a bi-colored boxcar and running it around the layout.

How is this done?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you ask the Yahoo Group?

Bob Boudreau

[cacole]

Something has obviously been misunderstood -- a boxcar of any color is not going to detect a short in your wiring. Go back and re-read the item on Yahoo or do as Bob Boudreau suggested and ask the people there how a bi-colored boxcar can detect a short. Or ask NCE, they might need a good laugh about now.

[jsoderq]

Cacole you are wrong. It takes a boxcar painted red on one side and green on the other. Run the car around the layout. If the car comes to the exact same spot on the track once with the red side and once with the green you have a reverse loop built into the layout. Notice it has to be the exact same spot on the track. This is very handy on large complex layouts.

[MisterBeasley]

Since there is a short in the layout, you will need to use a 5-DCC system to run the car around. .[:D]

When I first read "bi-colored boxcar" I thought this was another one of those first of April ideas, but jsoderq is right about the technique for finding a "hidden" reverse loop

[Virginian]

A bi colored boxcar......... once again I am amazed. Is this a kitbash or RTR? I lieu of such a boxcar, could you use a tanker with one dome on one side and two domes on the other?
Why not just run in some 34.5 KV power lines and watch for the flash? And, what makes anyone think that someone who needs this bi colored boxcar is going to be able to fix whatever if the car does come back green side up? (Hey, wasn't there a Polish joke........)

[howmus]

Actually you can do the same thing with most any way of IDing the sides of the car. (Doesn't even have to be a boxcar......[;)]) Place a small sticky note or a small label dot on one side of the car and run it around the track and if the car is reversed, it must have been through a reverse loop (or wye). With a complex, large layout, it is easy to end up witha reverse loop that you didn't know was there.

[aartlib]

Hmmmm.......... 9 Stars between the two of you. Thanks for the help............NOT

[Walter Clot]

I'm not that sharp, but I immediately understood the idea of the two colors. The post it note ofcourse is quicker. My layout isn't that complicated. I know I have a reverse loop. I built it in on purpose. I just use a different power pack with insulated tracks. It gives another grandchild a train to run! And they can trade off trains.