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 I have a 2 main line layout using 2 Lionel 180 Watt Bricks for power. Each brick is wired to a fixed DCS post. The switches are track powered.  I have a crossover from line #1 to Line #2 and an additional crossover from line #2 back to Line #1. When the train goes from #1 to #2 or #2 to #1 line #1 shorts out and vice versa.  Where the switches meet I have the switches on line #1 curved part with the jumper wired and no wire on the curved part on the switch on line #2.

When I don't use DCS the train switches without shorting , Is there a special way these switches have to be wired for use with DCS?

Thank you for the help,

 

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That makes no sense to me.  I can't imagine what DCS would be doing to create a short.  FWIW, I have the same setup, two loops with four switches allowing switching between tracks in either direction, and it's powered with two PowerHouse 180 transformers.

After you sort this out, I suggest you replace the track power link with a 22uh 500ma choke.  The electronics in the Fastrack switch can affect the DCS signal, the RF choke solves that issue.

Easy Phase test... Measure voltage  between  loops with a voltmeter or light bulb.

 Test leads ...Center rail on one loop to center rail on other loop. (hot to hot)  The voltage should be very low . perhaps 1 or 2 volts at the most... If the voltage is around 38 or so  the bricks are out of phase.

Do you have center rail  insulating pins separating the loops at each crossover?

 

Thank you for all your answers. I rechecked all my wiring and it was correct. I took the switches off the layout and hooked them up to 2 different bricks and they worked the way they were supposed to. When I put the switches back on the layout and connected them to the DCS they were shorting out.

I changed out 1 of the bricks and the switches worked correctly. The 1 brick must have been wired wrong. I was using a strip and there is only 1 way to put the plugs in. I will bring the brick in to a Lionel service center to see if they can wire it correctly. It was a brand new brick that I purchased a few years ago and just took it out of the box last week

bobnj1 posted:

Thank you for all your answers. I rechecked all my wiring and it was correct. I took the switches off the layout and hooked them up to 2 different bricks and they worked the way they were supposed to. When I put the switches back on the layout and connected them to the DCS they were shorting out.

I changed out 1 of the bricks and the switches worked correctly. The 1 brick must have been wired wrong. I was using a strip and there is only 1 way to put the plugs in. I will bring the brick in to a Lionel service center to see if they can wire it correctly. It was a brand new brick that I purchased a few years ago and just took it out of the box last week

Good move but take all your bricks so the Lionel guy can make sure they're all wired the same.  (in phase)

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