Some of my engines stall at slow speed moving through switches. Most at O 72 and I have a Ross double cross over. I have checked the center rail on all the switches and that is not the problem. I did check the outside rails and they have continuity, however the curved rails after the points are isolated on all the switches. Is that normal? What happens if they are connected to the outside rail?
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Ok first the stalling issue.... I would check the spacing if the pick-ups on your loco. Make sure that a roller is able to touch the center rail at all times as it makes the "jump" across the isolated curved rail as it goes through the switch. Second, make sure that both roller pick-ups are, indeed working. If only one out of two roller pickups is working , there will be a dead spot as you go through the switch.
Now about the isolated rail issue. Well it's not an issue. That's the way it is supposed to be, otherwise as the roller pickups go across it, there would be a "short".
My 2 cents.
You might be loosing ground ? What locomotives ?
I did check the outside rails and they have continuity, however the curved rails after the points are isolated on all the switches. Is that normal? What happens if they are connected to the outside rail?
Yes that's normal, Don't forget the center rail rollers actually ride over those rails , if they were not insulated it would be a dead short.
On some Ross switches it’s the engine traction tire causing loss of ground and creating a stall. The traction tired wheel is the only wheel contacting the electrical ground and not passing the ground to the electrical boards of the engine.
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