Finding a short
I am in the process of wiring my new layout and have developed a short. The command station is a Digitrax Zephyr. Being a small (7' X 13') layout, I wired it as one block. All the switch frogs are electrically isolated. There are no trains or tools on the track.
I've spent the day soldering feeders to buss wire, an extremely difficult thing for me to do, with my physical limitations. I'd really rather not start cutting all that work apart. I don't see how it is possible for me to have screwed up soldering red to red and black to black.
Is there a tool that will check for shorts? Or can someone recommend a troubleshooting procedure?
Scott Groff
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Here is a thread about how to post photos. You can use the same basic directions to upload your photos to the forum server here, and they will show properly.
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/3237
Ken Biles
Scott's Schematic
Dear Scott, MRH team,
Scott, apologies, but it appears Yahoo Mail figured your post was Spam, and automatically hid it in the Spam folder... :-(
MRH Team, herewith with the aforementioned revised schematic, direct from Scott's PDF scan...
BTW, the "click to see a larger version" function doesn;t seem to be working for externally-hosted pics, so for the original sized-scan (3000+ pixels wide), Right-click and choose "Save Target As"...
Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr
Is is just me?
Is is just me, or does MRRSparky seem like a rather appropriate user handle for a modeler having problems with shorts?
[wink]
Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine
Read my blog
Good Spot!
Alex
One day I might be modeling the Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria, Australia.
My location - Queensland, Australia.
More than you know...
Dear Joe,
Yep, maybe it's an Aussie thing but I caught that one too... :-)
http://www.sparkydirect.com.au/
http://www.auroraenergy.com.au/About/Safety/Safety-education/Sparky-s-electrical-safety-games
http://www.sparky.com.au/
Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr
Divide et impera
said one old dictator...
You should do the same and cut the trackbus and the tracks and thereby the wiring as a whole into separate areas.
Divide in two areas - is the short still there? If yes its in "your" area - if no its in the other.
Do it again until you have cornered the short.
After you are finished, reinstall the connections in a way to use them again for further searches.
See also: http://dcc-mueller.de/wire4dcc/kurzschl.htm#binsearch
The text is in German, but the little drawing might help. Try Google translate, its funny in parts, but you will get the message.
Carsten Möller
Hamburg, Germany