Wiring Track Decoupler

@Eighthtry posted:

Am I overthinking this?

You must be as I doubt anyone but yourself has ever heard of a track decoupler - it's called an uncoupling track. 

You have it wired the way it should be.  If you want to uncouple with the train stopped you just cycle into neutral before activating the uncoupler.

-Greg

Overthinking it twice.  Typical of me.  Ask the wife.

Thanks for the help.  That just lessened my workload.

You and gunrunner just opened my eyes to my dilemma of powering my uncouplers, thank you.

Ray

I had this in my files.  It might have come from Stan.

plus substitute wiring in pdf

John

The uncouplers were designed way back when, and it was assumed that they, being toys, needed to be easy to install by the average kid and his dad, and fool-proof.

Of course, we all are subject to "if it works, take it apart and find out why" syndrome and its corollaries. But making the controller to the uncoupling/unloading track constantly powered introduces some unintended consequences. The powered-by-the-track feature means that it can't be left powered when not needed. A stray unintended button activation (never discount the abilities of a cat or guest) or a crossed wire can start an overheating situation.

It's best to leave it the way it was made at the factory and do what the man said: Put the train in neutral and adjust the track power to the minimum needed voltage for reliable operation.

Mine are powered off the acc terminals on my KW. I used momentary push button switches for activation.

Also removed the magnets from the stock tubular track and cut them into the track where I wanted them.

The Super-O #37 uncoupler is an easy way to install the feature in most track types.

I assume you used a fixed voltage terminal?  If so, then what voltage?

Uncouplers seem to work OK on 9 - 16V.  14-16v is better

John