Do I have a short in my track?

Do you have the insulated pins in the control rails? That might cause issues.

Jerry

Absolutely.  The bulbs in the switches are causing the continuity alarm to sound because there is, in fact, a complete circuit.  The same thing would happen with just track, no switches, when you put a loco or lighted car on the track.

What I would do before fastening down track is put voltage to the sections/sections and place a lighted caboose on the track just to make sure everything was ok.  Ad a few sections, switch power on and check again.  I do not fasten switches themselves to a layout, in fact I leave one section from each side of switch unfastened so there would be no possibility of pressure on switch moving parts.  Again, add switch and run caboose by hand thru switch to see if non-derailing feature works.

If a short would show up, then I would only have to check one or a couple of sections of track or one switch for the problem.  I would do this until all track, switches and other tubular sections were laid.

TEX

Steve

Tex Steve,

    You give good building advise, this is exactly how we construct our DCS layouts, always test as you build, it saves a lot of head aches/frustration in the long run.

PCRR/Dave 

Tex Special gave very good advice, not only in order to avoid the problem you had, but because the "caboose test" also indicates another situation where a continuity tester will not help you out - a weak connection or bad track. Set voltage low but enough for a good light and note if it seems dimmer than normal something is not right in the connections you just made.  Putting a load on the track as you build it verifies there is no short and sufficiently good connections that the track conveys power as needed.  I don't use a caboose, I use a sounds tender or a diesel with sound so I can hear if the circuit is good with my back turned.

Just so we all can learn a new term today and use it in the future: What you have is not a short circuit. It is called a "sneak path" and it confuses repairmen all the time, especially in trying to locate a current drain in an automobile.  Trust me, you're not the first guy to get tricked this way. You have now learned that you need to remove any load that presents itself across the rails before metering for a short or other metallic problem.

Always look for rolling stock left on the track, illuminated bumpers and Lockons, lamps in track switches, etc.

The solenoid inside the switch may also show up with an ohm meter, as it has windings inside it. Test just the track without the switch!

Gargraves switches use an outside switch motor and it does not get direct power from the track like a Lionel switch does.

Lee Fritz

Jerry, Rob, Steve, Dave, Lee and Art thanks for a common sense lesson. Replies like yours are what make this forum a great place to learn from others questions.

Thanks

Sam

Arthur,

AW, you're taking all the fun out of it.  I always enjoy tearing what hair I have left out, trying to find those elusive frustrating shorts and sneak paths in train and electronic equipment.  Look closely at my profile picture to see what 55+ years has done to my hairline!!!

Thanks to Rob for his answer.  Removed the bulb from the switch and presto--no continuity buzz!   Thanks Rob.

John