Hello, I'm hoping someone can help give me some guidance with an electrical problem I'm having..? My Son just built a Layout featuring two separate loops of 072 RealTrax with a "double crossover" between the two Loops so trains can switch between the inner and outer Loops. The two (2) Crossovers are fairly close together but not back to back, and are simply four (4) 072 Realtrax Switches (two 072 Realtrax Switches for each crossover). When the Layout is "powered up", one of the 072 Switches "immediately" becomes "enegerized" ie. when you manually throw it...it hums and quickly "snaps back" into it's original position. The remainder of the 072 Switches do not behave this way. "ALL" power is supplied to "both" Loops using Realtrax Lighted snap-in Lock-ons. Due to scenery and some space constraints, the Lock-ons are placed on various sides of the Track. We felt this is "not" the problem as the Center rail "always" sees the red ("hot") lead. There is no way this can get mixed up, however the outer rails could be inverted at different points, but seeing as "both" outer rails are ground, would this cause this condition..? If I remember correctly, when using the old tubular track with "pins", sometimes an "insulating pin" had to be placed between switches when making a Crossover....however, when using "snap together" Realtrax, how is this accomplised, seeing as there are "No" pins to insulate..? When looking at the wiring terminals on the Realtrax Switches there are small brass "plates" provided with each switch. Are these plates somehow "positioned" a different way when switches "oppose" each other as in a crossover..? Is this how the Realtrax (no pins) gets around the "insulated pin" placement as used in older style tubular track..? I'm not even sure if this is the problem..? The other Issue is that power is "NOT" making it completely around the Layout...when taking a voltage reading there is 14 volts, (just as a number), on the Lock-on side of the switch...but Zero (0) volts on the switch itself...? So, I have two problems here....1/.I have an 072 Realtrax Switch that stays "energized" as "soon" as power is supplied to the Track, and..2/. Power is "not" getting all the way around the Layout to "both" Loops, seemingly "not" making it thru some 072 switches. I have placed several Lock-ons through-out the Layout because of the track distances involved, (about 14' between Lock-ons), but currently I don't even have power leads (wires) run to these Lock-ons yet. Tonight was just going to be hooking up power to one Lock-on on "each loop" and powering up the Layout to try and run a Train...but..something's not right here..My gut reaction tells me it's something to do with the "Switches" in the two Crossovers...but being "snap together" Realtrax, I'm not sure how to proceed. Any help would be "greatly appreciated. Thank you...!
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