O22 switches acting as a block

Bob, when you say the "they are on an inner ZW circuit," does that mean you are using the fixed voltage plug?

 

Also, why are you using the center terminal for the return? 

Yes the O22's are on fixed voltage plugs wired from the B terminal of the zw.  I had asked about where the return or neutral wire to the other post on the zw was supposed to come from and I understood that it was either the track ground (outer rail with the zw) from a lock-on or equivalent, which included specifically the center post on the O22's. In other words I have the wire going to common on circuit B coming from a center post on an O22.

Now this is interesting. I pulled the fixed voltage plugs on  all 7 switches, and not one of them lights up! When I went from the 1033 to the zw I switched the power and ground wires at the zw to account for the fact that the zw ground is the outer rail. But does the O22 wiring have to be switched around as well?

If you haven't done so already, try the switch after you have disconnected the center terminal wire.

 

I'm looking at the 022 operating instructions and they make no provision for using the center terminal as you are doing.  The only wires connected to the switch are the three wires from the controller and the optional fixed voltage plug.

 

EDIT:  They also show two loops connected in a way for automatic switching between the two loops using two 022 switches where the outside terminals of both switches are connected to each other.  This suggests that the center terminal is the "hot" NOT ground or common circuit.

 

 

Edit 2:  The center terminal is, in fact, common.  I should have remembered this since I just tested some childhood 022's and used the center terminal connected to the ZW common to test the lights and switch action.  Bob's reply below caused me to remember.

 

Scratch that last comment. I forgot I have to turn up the power for the switches to light up when they are on track power. There now are no extra wires connected to any of the center O22 terminals, they are getting track power, and the train is still stopping after going over the same switches. A short? Carl I saw the instructions as you have done, and got the same impression. But there has to be another wire coming back to the power source, in this case circuit B of the zw, don't you think? That's what I understood from advice I got on the forum anyway.

You know I don't think it's a wiring thing. I looked at the loco and it appears to have a broken spring on one of the roller contacts. I think going over the switch causes it to lose contact. Thanks for your input. Pretty sure the center terminal on the switches connects to track ground, but that's not first hand info! 

The center post is, in fact, common ground, and can be used to supply current to, or tap into, the outside rails at any 022 switch.

Rob is correct, the center terminal is common, and I've edited my previous post, accordingly.

It is possible the tip of the wide center rail near the frog is bent too far down. It can be bent up very slightly and gently. Too far up and it may catch some sliding contact shoes. Your broken pick up spring leads me to think this is part of your problem. If you have two 022 switches together, depending which way they face each other, there are some modern diesel locomotives where the contact rollers line up simultaneously with the dead spots. Non TMCC Alco c420's for example. As far as using the center terminal on the switch motor to provide ground to the track, I would avoid it unless it improves voltage drop at the switch itself. The 022's need help with track voltage rather than providing help. I operate with no wire to the center terminal at all, but my other track ground connections have had a lot of work put into them.  One weakness of the 022 are the tabbed electrical connections on the underside causing poor conductivity. Another issue is that the rails on an 022 just can't hold on to the track pins as well as a regular piece of track - thus causing even more voltage drop.

You said you have interconnected loops.  Are you powering each loop off a separate handle of your zw and when the train goes from one loop or one powered handle the train stops?  If this is the case you are causing arcing between the loops and this is a problem with the zw. If you want to do each handle powering each loop run your track power into a spdt center off switch so you can have the train power on the same handle as is transitions in and out of the connected loops.

quote:

 If this is the case you are causing arcing between the loops and this is a problem with the zw. If you want to do each handle powering each loop run your track power into a spdt center off switch so you can have the train power on the same handle as is transitions in and out of the connected loops.

 

There should be an insulating pin anyplace the two loops join. Otherwise the ZW can be ruined.

If the handles are set to approximately the same position, the problem described above won't happen.

The switches could also have a break in the connections in the base that bridge the center rails together. Or it could be as simple as the center rail pin being loose or making poor contact. The ends of the rails can become loose and distorted on switches.

Every 022 on a layout should ideally be connected to the common ground bus by means of the center post for best continuity throughout.

The outer electrically isolated loop is on one handle and the 2 interconnected loops are on the other.

So Rob, in addition to the 3 wires that run between the switch and its controller, you feel I should add another wire that runs from every center terminal of each switch to a common bus that connects with the "common" terminal associated with the fixed voltage power line?

It's not necessary, but it's a better connection to the outside rails and the layout common than a CTC or other lockon, though.

Another example would be to use posts 1 & 3 on a UCS or RCS section to provide power to the track - a better connection to the track and certainly much neater than a lockon: