I have been researching the wiring of these switches and have gotten a ton of great advice from some very knowledgeable people on these threads and in my local hobby shops. This is my first question on the forum. This is also my first attempt at a pre-permanent layout. I’m prepping for the day I frame the basement.
I have roughly 13, 022 switches and 2, 072 switches in my current layout. I have bench tested both the switches and controllers and matched them and installed them as pairs, using constant voltage, and wiring the 2 leads from the controllers to each switch accordingly. My question is this, are the switches getting the ground signal from the common bus wire that is feeding the track directly? Or do I need to have a separate ground wired from the center post of the switch to the common bus wire, or wire all the switches (center post) back to the controller panel ground as you would in a knock down layout?
my problem is the track layout is showing shorts throughout (continuity) ,all my power station and control station wiring is testing good in stand alone, but the track when wired in is shorting out.
I have tried isolating all components and troubleshooting down to individual track pieces. I have read somewhere that the bulbs may give a bad reading when not energized (resistance) and still I cannot find the answer I am looking for. My latest thought was the center post ground on the switches.
II've been a novice model train enthusiast my entire life and this is a first attempt at a permanent layout. I have been 1&1/2 years in the schooling of O gauge layout planning and wiring and decided to start off with more enthusiasm than knowledge.
I do have manuals and schematics along with an intermediate knowledge of electrical wiring.
I would appreciate any advice that would help move me in the right direction. Thanks!
