Realtrax Switch Problem

Is it buzzing or just sitting quiet in mid position?

Thanks for replying Jeff.....It buzzes and sometimes it's quiet (lights go out..no power)

Again, it appears the magnets are not grabbing onto each other underneath.  I looked at my other Realtrax switches and the magnets all grab on to the piece that controls the track.  With mine, the magnets, even though they both test strong when putting a screw driver next to them, don't attract to each other.  Hope I am stating this in a meaningfull way....

"Again, it appears the magnets are not grabbing onto each other underneath."

Whether the item works or not, when the motor is attached to the switch body, the magnets attract to each other. That is because the north pole of  one is facing the south pole on the other.

If the magnet were to be taken out of the motor or the switch, and held next to its counterpart magnet in the other, they would attract to each other.....if they are installed correctly, either from the factory or by you.

HOWEVER, if one of the magnets came out of the little plastic holder that contains it, and you put the little round magnet back into the holder reversed, then you would have two north (or two south) poles facing each other and the switch would not work. The micro switches in the turn out would not be set correctly.

And...each magnet would still attract (grab as you put it) a steel item like a screwdriver, but would not attract (again, grab) each other.

I offer this in the event that a magnet has been moved and replaces. If the units were fixed permanently to a board, and then started this problem, what I offer has no use.

Unless....... I have seen where the magnets will work part way out of the plastic that holds them, making the distance for the throw longer, and having the same effect on the microswitches. This does not take care of your "grabbing" problem though.

I hope your problem is as simple as one of the above. Greg

Hey Greg..

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!  The discription of the your solution was perfect.  Yes, the magnets did come out when I was resetting the layout and I put them in "backwards"...  Never gave it a thought about the "poles".  I failed physics!!!  Thanks trememdously for solving my problem.  The switch works perfectly now!!!!

Larry Williams

A small drop of gel superglue in the socket will keep them from coming out again, should you see the problem in another switch.

I had one that seemed to come out periodically. It does not come out now.

Be careful not to get the glue on anything else in there.

Glad that it was that easy!! I forgot about the "superglue them" back in solution, thank Russell for that one. You had an easy problem with an easy answer.

We all wish that they all were that easy.

Have a great Labor Day weekend all.

Greg (And no, you were not crazy. But...you should have paid more attention in science class maybe!)     ;-)