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Thanks to Walt, Bob and numerous other great postings on this forum, I was able to successfully modify three of my four 1122/1122E switches to use accessory power. However, I am running into an issue with the 4th switch. Despite numerous attempts, the switch will only throw in one direction. When I attempt to switch it to the other direction, it does nothing- no noise, nothing. I can switch it back manually, and it will throw just fine. Any suggestions on troubleshooting? I am fairly certain I have a good solder connection- I've resoldered multiple times. Ironically, this was the last switch I did, and the others worked fine. The switch worked fine prior to modification. 

Separately, now that I am running the switches via accessory power, I'm running into an issue with the ground on these switches. Originally, I thought that these would be grounded through the track. However, on both my transformers (a postwar KW and a new Z-1000), the accessory power has a separate ground from the track ground. When I go to throw the switches, they throw fine, but it makes the lights on the train blink, as if there is power going to the track briefly.

Does this mean I need to run a separate ground bus wire from the transformer and connect it to each of the posts closest to the switch box on the switch? Is there another way to do it? 

Thanks in advance for the help.

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That post with the metal base is the track ground, and your track(train) transformer(s) must share this common ground with your accessory common. Also, you must still use the fiber pins in the switch track trigger rails. There should be no modification to the wiring for the switch track trigger rails or the binding post wiring on the 1122's, just the "hot" or center rail wires(one from each coil - they are tied together where the two solenoid coils meet) cut from the feed to the center rails and soldered to a pigtail exiting the switch machine housing for connection to the accessory tap or transformer. Make sure the wiring is insulated from the switch chassis.

Thanks Rob. A couple of things:

- Yes, I am fairly certain I did the modification of the 1122s correctly, as three of the four work as they should. I have the fiber pins in the correct spot. I should add that the switch in question does not work with either the non-derailing feature or when controlled separately with the switch controller.

- With respect to the ground issue, I realized there was a mistake in my original post. I have a postwar TW (not a KW), and the Z-1000. On both transformers, there is a separate accessory ground. On the TW, I have the track powered from posts C and U on the transformer, and accessories powered from posts E and F. On the Z-1000, there are red and black posts on the controller itself, and then the power brick has separate hot and common posts for the accessory power.

Thanks.

Evan

Biker2679 posted:

... I have a postwar TW (not a KW), and the Z-1000. On both transformers, there is a separate accessory ground. On the TW, I have the track powered from posts C and U on the transformer, and accessories powered from posts E and F...

There is no separate accessory ground/common on the TW, it is "A" - same as for the track.

Your track should be powered with "A" to lockon clip 2(outside rails), and "U" to lockon clip 1(center rail).

Accessories should be connected to "A"(common) and then pick the fixed voltage tap that best fits the use - for switches probably "D".

Rob, thanks very much. Changing the wiring as you suggested eliminated the issue of the train being activated when I threw the switches! Cant believe I screwed that up. In any case, the only issue I am seeing now is that there is substantial sparking when the train travels over the switches. Any thoughts?

I still need to pull apart the non-working switch and test as you described above, although given how inexpensive these are, I am not going to waste too much time monkeying with it.

Biker2679 posted:

,,,  the only issue I am seeing now is that there is substantial sparking when the train travels over the switches. Any thoughts?

All normal.

Now, just be sure you do not park a train on a switch with the transformer on, the coils in the switches stay energized even when the train is stopped.

Good to see you are back in business. The TW can be a tricky transformer to work with despite its usefulness.

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