Sudden power loss-Switches

You likely lost common- AKA outside rail. Electric is a circuit, it has to go in and then COME BACK.

Again, if they all stopped working- you somewhere likely lost common.

Thank you, sir.  I did notice I have a loose wire from one of my spst switches.  I will firm up connections tomorrow.  Thank you again!

@Vernon Barry posted:

You likely lost common- AKA outside rail. Electric is a circuit, it has to go in and then COME BACK.

Again, if they all stopped working- you somewhere likely lost common.

Vernon,

Just shored up my connections, and got just a very weak signal that couldn't throw one switch halfway  However, hooked the transformer straight to the terminal block, and I have all of my switches back except one.  Is it possible my CDU went bad?

-Bob

@BobRoyals posted:

Vernon,

Just shored up my connections, and got just a very weak signal that couldn't throw one switch halfway  However, hooked the transformer straight to the terminal block, and I have all of my switches back except one.  Is it possible my CDU went bad?

-Bob

It's possible yes, it could be bad, but also likely that it too lost "common" and it needs that connection to work.

Again, a CDU needs both "hot" and "common" from the transformer, and "common" is also shared with the track and switches. If you lose common- it too doesn't work.

@BobRoyals posted:

I am running my atlas switch machines through a Peco CDU connected to the AC (Constant) on a Lionel CW80 Controller.  Switches are contolled by SPST push buttons.

All worked fine until today, when  I could get only one of 8 switches to even buzz with the button depressed. Buzz indicates AC power, but a CDU should be mostly a big DC pulse and then maybe after that rectified current limited (the resistor) pulsing DC?

I was putting in another switch, so I though maybe I'd created a short.  However, wouldn't my CW be blinking if that were the case? Answer: No, because you have a CDU in between and there is an internal resistor in the CDU- this prevents the transformer from seeing overload (blinking) from a short.

Things I've checked:

Controller: Switched out the CW for a Chicago Model Works AC output, same result. Agreed- likely not the transformer

CDU: Bypassed CDU to test power pack, same result. Indicates was NOT the CDU

What am I not troubleshooting that I should be, here?  Thank you for your time.

I just reviewed this video about the Peco CDU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a5Rt3w1XRA

and again, my concern with that many switches not working, and even taking the CDU out of the circuit, and changing transformer sources- it's a wiring problem and the loss of common to the Atlas switch motors would be my guess since they all don't work. Each would have it's own hot lead via a switch, and then common which is common to all. Technically there is a bus to all the switches- so another place to check.