Atlas 6924's & #57's 'Self-triggering'

Mark,

I tried calling you but had to leave message.

Hi Steve. Was busy with all things Halloween. I'm around Monday and next hour or so. Looking forward to talking to you.

Mark

Hi Steve. Looks like I solved things. Phased the KW'S and still had same events. Looking at KW #2 where 6924s were hooked to accord post, I noticed a small Crack in plate behind posts A and it's U.

Moved 6924 power/common over to KW #1. Trains still running on KW #2. Problem appears to be solved with the 6924s randomly opening. 57's 4 to 6 ate still a brighter red than 1 to 3. Seems to be a minor issue if anything at all.

What is curious is that I'm not sure the Crack is anything but a crack in Bake-Post backing post. I'll experiment with a 3rd backup transformer.

Mark,

Sounds like good progress. Keep me posted

 

Steve

Will do Steve. Thanks for troubleshooting things with me.

Mark

Hey Steve,  looks like I jumped the gun. 6924s are still randomly trigering. Tried multiple KW configurations and wire combinations. I will say the more I run it things seem to go longer without trigger.  That said it is fun to operate these with the 57's. Sometimes when one triggers then another follows quickly. Not necessarily the adjacent one either.

Perhaps email from fellow railroader whom had similar experience is still around? 

One thought could be a loss Atlas Common Rail connecter that was not snug when out on. Possible interruption of coomom line could trigger this?

Thanks!  Mark

INTERESTING》》》with rail power on I am able to recreate trigering with a LIGHTED CABOOSE....moving in a forwards and backwards motion on the track. Nothing happens with a freight car. As with train, 6924s on Loop A trigger when doing above on Loop B. A and B are on separate KW power posts.

Is some kind of 'charge' being created by the pickup rollers? Using Atlas 3 Rail Track with center black rail.

MarkB

Hello Mark,  I had a similar problem with the 6924.  I don't know if it applies to you.  It had to do with cross-talk on the non-derail wires going to IN A and IN B in the 6924.  I had a long run of wires from the switch to the 6924.  Those wires were bundled with the power-routing wires (track power).  When  current began flowing through the track power wires, the board  began to trigger the switch back and forth.  The problem was solved by separating the power routing wires from the non-derail wires.

Here is the forum post.

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...ard-erratic-behavior

JVM 51--thanks. Although I am not using power routing at the moment assist of switches are 036-054, I do have the KW 'C' accessory power wire & common, going to an MTH Buss Board. Buss Board distribute Power & Common to 6924,s.

These are bundled with all the other wires for about 2-3 feet. I could reroute them separately and feed or.,  From back of my under the table electronics board where 6924's are attached.

Sound familiar?  Sounds like I have less feet than you but it could be the bundling.

Mark

I went out of my mind for a couple of weeks with this. I just ended up disconnecting the bundled non-derail wires and ran 2 temporary connections outside the bundle.  For me, the problem disappeared immediately.  If it doesn't, then it must be something else.

Joe

 

I'm not sure I understand the problem but with a KW Are you sure you can use the C  post? ,. , Wouldn't  you better off using one of the handles?  If using D & C , neither is common to the u connection... I don't know if your set  up shares the same common?

I know the feeling....half the fun of building a layout.  One other possibility per my post above is possible loose rail connectors on Atlas track. Replacing track here and there I bent things up to keep the joiners in place...BUT.....weakened their grip.  this per OGR comment above could cause some power gaps.  I'll probably hunt down both!

 

Mark

Hi Greg, KW's have shared COMMON U Post, so I'm able to connect Accessory U to A or B Common 'U".

 

Mark

I do have the KW 'C' accessory power wire & common, going to an MTH Buss Board. Buss Board distribute Power & Common to 6924,s.

 

This is where you lost me.  The C and U is 6 only  volts.

JVM 51--'--I re-read your post. IN A and IN B for J1 have the GRN & RED wires going back to top 2 posts of my #57 Switch Controllers.

Presently, my IN A and IN B are presently bundles with wires for all 6, 6924s.  Tonight,  I did however re-route the 6924 POWERADE and COMMON wires, 6 sets, out of the bundle so they are separate.

Should I also separate out IN A and IN B frim the bundle?

Mark.

Gregg, accesosory is wired to KW D Post which is 14 volts.

Mark

D &C is the only way   to get  14 volts with a KW and neither is common to the "U" connection.

 

That's the "Achilles heel " of a KW.  If things are working disregard my post, If not,  well this could be part of the problem if a non-derailing feature is  also  evolved

Hi Gregg, I'll try running things off a A or B post. Could be a game changer.

Mark

Mark,

I agree with Gregg on the "KW". Although I love the look and feel of the KW I sold all mine and only use the ZW type. Give me a call when you have a chance.

 

Steve H

Thanks Steve. Will reach out to you later this morning.

Mark

Gregg....your tip was correct. First thing I did this morning after coffe was that I switched the Switch/Accesory lines over to Post B/U on KW 2. All seems normal. Thanks for your tip and everyone else on the OGR Forum, as I was able to clean up a number of items.

Spoke to Steve Horvath this morning and he confirmed above. I will also upgrade to a ZW asap. I will now wire up the remaining 9 switches. Excited to wire in some signals to 6924's.....fun never ends on a layout.

Mark B.
N. CA