Track Issues

I don't understand what that means.  Did you not use them for 12 years?  Is this the first time you set up this layout or did the problem just start after a while of running?

 

 

I would try running a jumper wire to the bad section of track to see if it is just a bad track connection.   This would be cheaper than buying new track and switches.

how many different feeds throughout your layout do you have.

Thanks Mark.  My bad spelling.  I have them on the Track for about 12 years. thats how long the layout has been up.   I have only one feed to the track.

You definitely want to run a feed to the section between your 2 switches. Never trust that a switch will pass the full current all the way through.

I know this is stupid, but what do you mean by "feed"  do you mean place the lockon between the switches?

thanks to all who posted.  I will try the lockon between the switches. funny this happens now after 12 years.

 

Bob

The point is you need more than one lockon for the loop of track. 

The switches might be drawing more power now than they did 12 years ago.  The ZW may not be putting out the same power as it did 12 years ago  Or your local utility may not be supplying the same power to your outlet as it did 12 years ago.  There are a million variables that can explain the sudden drop.  The best thing is to add a lockon as others have stated.  Another thing I would do is connect the switches to a fixed voltage instead of using track power.

Thanks.  Im just dumb this.  I can o scenery & track but not electricity.  Here is my other dumb question.  How do I add another lockon between the switches to the ZW when I already have one for power?

You can just run it all the way back to the transformer if you want: it is OK to have more than one wire coming from the posts on the ZW. Or you can cut the existing power wire under the table somewhere, bring the new wire to that point, and bind it all together using a wire nut.

 

Put another lockon to the track section losing power

Splice the wires into the existing power feeds (track power wires) to the ZW

You may want to check your track connections at the switches- tighten them up if loose-crimp them tight at the track pins- things get shook up after 12 years of HiRail pounding- clean your track if you haven't done so in a while

I do it this way, I run power to one of these;

 

then run power to track in several places.  you can get these at radio shack and other places.

 

 

Thanks guys.  I will try these ideas.  thanks to all of you for the posts.

 

Bob