Short Circuit
I need some help with a short circuit.
After some considerable time I have at last figured out a track plan ( see attached) and put down most of my track, temporarily, and I can run a train.
With the reverse loop I have installed a MRC auto reverse module (blue dot) that for the most part does its job.
Power supply at the pink and brown dots.
However I keep getting a short at the insulated joiner (red dots) at the brown arrow, in both directions.
The short does not happen at all times and occurs mainly with my Bachmann HO Climax loco, the only other loco being a Bachmann HO Baldwin 4-4-0.
I am using Peco code 100 snap switches.
What I need to know is have I installed the insulators correctly and can it be improved?
Are the Climax and Shay type locos more prone to these problems?
Perhaps a combination of the Peco turnouts and locos?
Are these auto reverse modules infallible or is this something that just happens?
Have I got an other reverse loop hiding out here?... causing problems.
How many locos can I have out there at any one time, using the auto reverse module?
Thanks in advance.
| Attachment | Size |
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| mrh.rtfd_.zip | 100.21 KB |
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Can you repost the layout as a jpg
The file as attached is giving my computer fits...
Terry
Universal format file needed
Your attachment is from a Mac. Please attach a PDF of the file so that non-Mac users can view.
Alan
All the details: www.LKOrailroad.com Just the highlights: MRH blog
When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro
Taking liberty - conversion
'tis best to post as JPEG (jpg) when posting here. I've taken the liberty to provide the conversion:
Bill D.
N Scale (1:160), not N Gauge. DC (analog), Stapleton PWM Throttle.
Proto-freelance Southwest U.S. 2nd half 20th Century.
Keep on trackin'
How slowly are you travelling
over the gap(s) ? I have a wye with a Digitrax auto-reverse circuit and find I can cause it to short out if I cross the gaps at too low a speed (with a small 4-6-0). Not entirely unexpected, really, as at some point a metal wheel is touching both sides of the gap. I believe there's a time-out adjustment on most auto-reverse boards which may help mitigate the effect.
David
Track plan conversion.
Thanks for the conversion, thought it might cause a few hassles.
Speed.
Traveling very slow as there are turnouts just before and after the insulator, I was under the impresion that the electronics in the module was faster then the NCE Power Cab and switch the polarity before it could cut out.
From the drawing that John
From the drawing that John posted there appears to be several reverse loops. I would try to incorporate the switch at the arrow into the loop. Make sure both rails are insulated and that only one train crosses any insulated joint at a time.
Pete
multiple vs single reversing sections
There are several ways to get reverse loops in this drawing. If one uses the section of track that runs from the arrow vertically then to the left as the reversing section then only one will be needed. More insulating joints need to be added to the switch at the end of this piece of track. The ones at the arrow are necessary where they are otherwise additional reverse sections are needed.
This area will probably be used for some switching, This implies to me that the track polarity will be reversing frequently here and may cause troubles with another switching operation at the other end of the reversing section that I described.
I've never run into the operational problems that you describe. I'm wondering that you may have something setting across one end or the other of the reverse section.
What are the dots on the left side of the drawing? If this is track then there is another reverse loop which is outside of the one currently wired. You might see if the short comes and goes as turnouts in this area are thrown.
Terry
Shorts.
The yellow dots represent proposed track.
Do I need to add more insulators as Terry suggests before the turn out or after the turnout, would this not leave that section of track with no power?
I will move the module as suggested and vacuum the whole layout, its badly needed, double checking that the track is not being fouled somewhere.
Throwing turnouts seems to make no difference, however I will go back to that and start taking notes.
Thought I might disconnect the track at different points and see what happens.
The section with the reverse loop is the proposed saw mill site and the other end with the two dead ends is the logging camp/town site, a turn table is proposed to be at the end of the two tracks. (more problems looming) :)
The outside track being the main and the inside being the branch/logging line, I need to switch between the two in order to be able to change direction.
Maybe I have to simplify things?