As for the crossover there are 2 on the upper level of the layout and the center rail is isolated between the two. The siding that is shorting now I have to trace the wiring and it meets at a junction that is a tangle of wiring. Need to be very careful at that point don't want to add to my problems.
Alan Mancus posted:I would use a vom meter and set it to ohms, disconnect the track power connecter where the power is fed from. when you sure you disconnected use the ohm meter to check if there is a direct short from center rail to outer rail or some low ohm value 6 ohms 4 ohms etc. , you should not have a direct short or your breaker will trip! I'll bet you find no short then check from center rail to center rail around your layout I'm guessing you find some resistance higher ohms maybe even complete open or even a higher resistance. if you do I would suspect you have a poor connection between center rail to center rail causing this issue I have seen it before on older layouts especially if there in a damp basement !if you find this issue you don't have to dismantle your layout to replace the pins you can install jumpers from one rail to the next and solder on the side of one rail to the next. a lot of time corrosion sets in inside where the track pin goes between the pin and the inside of the track. this is the easiest fix I know you can do and not have to tear your layout apart to get it working again!
p.s. let us all know how you make out and good lluck!\
Alan
As above is exactly what i do..any track feeds must be disconnected. 2 rail the same..infinity ohm reading leads connected across the 2 rails or center to either outside on 3 rail. My latest "trip" was (2) 3 axle engines sharing a 7.5 atlas turn out..one on the straight and one on the turn out..meter hovered between 38 and 1.8 ohms jiggling the trucks. Even with 11 engines on this 3 rail loop,short was easy to find.
Just did a quick read across 2 rail with Z1000 connected..reads 2.0 ohms
3 rail read center to outside rail with its own Z1000 4.0 ohms.
I'm stuck and need an expert to help me rewire my layout. It seems every time I solve one problem I create another one. Does anyone know of anyone in the Washington Metro Area (Northern VA) or close by. I'm willing to pay for the work.
