Proper common hookup

You've already stumbled on the one major drawback of the KW - the 14 volt circuit does not share a common with the track - which is required with your switches - and you are limited to only 6 volts(too low) or 20 volts(generally too high).

If you are just powering FasTrack switches, another small transformer like the 1010 phased with the KW would work fine.

With your current transformers, using the 1010 for the switches and the 14v C-D for the beacon(which does not require a common ground) is probably the best solution.

Truthfully, for Fastrack switches, I recommend just running from track power for any command setup.  If you have DCS stuff, I put a 22uf RF choke instead of the track power jumper to avoid signal issues.

If you're running conventional, then a separate power supply makes sense, and you can ignore this.

Good thing I posted this question before I got to far along.  It is a conventional setup.

I had read that KW's were liked because of the 14V constant power and also read that 14V constant was preferred for fastrack switch power so that is how my erroneous thought process worked.  Did some more research on the KW and think I understand it a bit better now.

Rob your posted this in another thread regarding 022 switches.  Not sure if the same applies to Fastrack?  If so not sure exactly how you phase C or D to the layout common?

There is a way to use the 14 volt taps of the KW for 022 switches, as long as it's dedicated for that purpose. Just phase either C or D to the layout common, and connect the other to your 022 fixed voltage jacks.  The other fixed posts, and the variable A & B, are still usable, but the potential(voltage) will all be referenced to whichever post you picked as common.

That's the way to do it - but then you lose A-U and B-U for train control, at least on the same connected layout.

Just pick one, C or D as common - it's arbitrary.  Then phase that one to the common of your train control transformer, the other will give 14 volts to the switches.

If you use C as common. A-C and B-C now gives you 6-0-14 volts for trains, with D as common, A-C and B-C now gives you 14-0-6 volts for trains, both rather unsatisfactory.

These aren't typos - that's how the throttles will act connected in this fashion. You could use these outputs on a large layout with lots of accessories with different voltage requirements, keeping in mind all commons will be referenced to the one you picked as common to the outside rails of the layout(C or D).

Thanks for the help.  Not sure I fully understand your explanation, not that it matters, but if I understand correctly another way of saying it is for C common the voltage would be 6-(-14)?

Anyways I will go with your your suggestion in your first response (use the 1010 to power the switches and the 14V constant on the KW to power the beacon).  In that case all the commons for A and B on the KW (is it necessary or proper to connect both A & B commons), the Power Max Plus and the 1010 should be all hooked up together and all transformers will need to be phased.  Back to one of my original questions, is there anything to be concerned about with the 6V actual that I had between the two transforms when phased?

Then adjust the 1010 transformer until it is outputting 14V and then leave it there.

For the rotating beacon I will use the C terminal for common and the D terminal as AC Hot.  This ground wire will not connect to any of the others.

Tim 

If you move the handle from off, it would start at 6 volts, go down to zero as you keep moving it, and then up to 14 volts at the highest setting as you turn it clockwise more.

The "U" posts on the KW are common, connected internally, and are for A & B. They need no further connection to each other. One wire connected to all three transformer commons is all that is needed for phasing.

The 6 volts you saw was due to the way your meter reads the electronic output of the PowerMax. You can disregard this, adjust the transformers for satisfactory performance.

OK getting to the point of hooking up my 1010 transformer to the remote switches.  Can anyone verify which post is which on the 1010 ( I could not find any documentation for it)?  There are 2 posts.  One is marked "Control", has a square base and you can push it in.  I assume that it is the AC HOT post and pushing it in is a direction button.  The other post is not labeled has a round base and does not move.  I assume that is the COMMON post.

Tim

It doesn't matter on the 1010, but if you are using it to control trains at any point, convention would dictate that you use the "control"(right) direction button for the center rail, the other(left) for the common. I use a 1010 to power the electromagnet on my 282 crane, and this is how I do it.