I hooked all my switches to its own power turned on transformer zw275 and all the switches function perfect then turned on track power and I get power failed in track. What can be wrong? It's just straight power to track. Also I noticed when I apply track power the switch lights dim down.my thought is a short but where.
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Is it possible you left a Switch connected to track power as well?
That will make them interact. This is trouble brewing.
Test for this:
Remove power from the track, Leave the switch power running.
Measure the track center to outside rail with an AC voltmeter. It should read Zero.
If it reads Switch voltage, find the place they are connected and remove that connection. Where to look depends on which brand switch.
Voltage on the rails will be very slightly higher closer to the short.
And are the 2 power supplies in phase?
Phase Test:
Take an AC voltmeter from the + on one transformer to the + on the other and set them at matching low voltages.
The meter should read near zero, if it reads double the set voltage you are out of phase.
Out of phase will cause all kinds of trouble. This Can happen easily if they are plugged into different outlets.
The Cure if out of Phase is to swap Input AC power plug polarity on ONE transformer.
Are transformers in phase?
Are transformers in phase?
Only one transformer
Tested the switches and I get zero on all switches but one on siding where there is there connected together took it off and the track still does it so that was not it.
This is the layout could it be the crossing
Are all the switches properly isolated, ie, plastic pins in the correct places?
Don
Are all the switches properly isolated, ie, plastic pins in the correct places?
Don
Yes unless they change when u have a crossover
Are all the switches properly isolated, ie, plastic pins in the correct places?
Don
They should be the 2 inner rails
Sorry bigdogjeff I miss read your post
Clem
Could your commons be crossed?
I think I am going to tear it down and check each piece of track. Maybe it's a track center rail insulator or something like that
Ok found the problem after 2 days of looking there was a straight piece of track that had its insulator broke off the center rail so hooked all back up and put some wire to it and the train started right up all switches are working so now I can go to the next step with my project. Thanks to all that gave me good ideas how to find this problem.
Next how hard is it to solder the wire to bottom of track.
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