LIONEL 180-WATT BRICK PROBLEM

Well, swapping it out would be a great test! Would then show a weaker breaker? I've not seen it with my PH bricks but I have with other stuff.

Maybe a voltage drop at the end of the block so much that the brick senses too much load when called on for the next?

Common sense tells me not to ask since you posted voltages, but is there any chance of out of phasing? Is the end of the block a switch or similar where a short could be possible?

 I think you know all this stuff Phil, but I'm just spitting out ideas.

Is there any other engines or lighted cars on block x at the time of entering?

phil gresho posted:

This is a 'new' problem;  it just started recently....When an engine enters ‘block X’ from blocks Y or Z, the 180 watt Lionel Brick for block X senses a SC and shuts down…..but only about 5 - 10% of the time….. for ‘any’ engine. The voltage on all 3 is 18.2 + - 0. 1 to 0.2. It seems that the ‘sensor’ [current, I assume] is rather too sensitive. Does it 'age' in some way that's deleterious?Any suggestions? Other than swapping it out?

Do all blocks have a common ground or U?

Are both outside rails connected together as common?

What is the product code and date on the offending brick? (see attached)

Hey, E-J:  Thanks for the USEFUL post!  Phasing is correct. BUT your 3rd Q made me re-think the issue.  Yes, the SC does occur at  junctions involving turnouts....one with leading points and 2 with trailing points.   My original suspicion WAS  the turnouts, but I could not find a cause there.  So I turned my attention to the fact that it was the 'entering Block X' that was the problem.  NOW, with your 'nudge', I will blame it on the COMBINATION.  But I STILL can't find a 'cause' owing to the turnouts!!  Can you?

Rod:  No

Carl:  The answers are Yes,  I THINK so [but will verify], and THANX for the link!  [I'd heard about their phase error, but did not know that they even admitted it!]

to both:  Please see my reply to Joe,  and my final Q there....

I was thinking that if a roller touched the frog to a side rail for a split second, it would cause the short.

 Sometimes our layouts change. When spring comes and the snow melts outside, the humidity goes up. That can cause the wood to swell and tracks to shift. That exact scenario caused one of my plaster bridge ends to crack from the wood hitting and squeezing the bridge. Maybe that caused your rails to change just enough to create an issue??

 "I was thinking that if a roller touched the frog to a side rail for a split second, it would cause the short."

E-J:    I'm not sure what you mean here......My [RCS/Ross] turnouts have Delrin frogs.  Are you referring to the 2 'lead rails',  1 for thru & 1 for curved?  These are ---- or SHOULD BE ----isolated.