Hello,
I'm having a severe problem with my layout. My layout is 14x16 and is powered by two MTH Z1000s that control two separate tracks with the DCS system. The terminal sections on both tracks become very hot and began to melt some of the road bed. I only hace one terminal per track. I have been running two command control engines with 14 lighted passenger cars per track. This problem has never occurred before on my layout. How would I fix this?
Thank you
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Remove the terminal sections and pull the spade connectors off. Tighten them by squeezing them with a pliers LIGHTLY. Then slide them back onto the terminals. They should be almost difficult to push on. That will ensure that there is no resistance and thus less heat when current flows though them.
First off, you should have more than one power drop on a 14x16 loop! Next, if you want to insure no melting at the connection point, solder the drops to the Fastrack tabs. Those .110 connectors tend to work loose and have high enough resistance to cause issues.
Two locomotives and 14 incandescent lighted passenger cars has got to be really pushing the capability of those Z1000 transformers on one loop! If you figure 1/4A for each car, which is about what I see with incandescent lighting in passenger cars, just the passenger cars are pulling are pulling at least 3 1/2 amps!
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