Welcome to the forum   
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

Share
Options
View
Go to last post in this topic Go to first unread post in this topic
Offline luke_1  
#1 Posted : 16 September 2025 06:48:04(UTC)
luke_1

China   
Joined: 08/09/2025(UTC)
Posts: 4
Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
My trix track is a very simple circle. Today, the model train suddenly couldn't pass through one of the straight tracks. I started to look for the cause and tested it with a multimeter. There was no problem with the power. I changed to another train and tested it, but the problem still existed, which meant that the problem was not with the train. Then I wiped the track with an alcohol sponge, but it still couldn't pass after the test. I don't know if there are other ways to find the cause?
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by luke_1
Offline Carim  
#2 Posted : 16 September 2025 13:13:16(UTC)
Carim

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 690
Location: London
Have you checked that there is nothing from the locos catching the track and so physically preventing the loco from moving forward? Does this happen in both directions?

Carim
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Carim
Offline marklinist5999  
#3 Posted : 16 September 2025 14:08:43(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 4,026
Location: Michigan, Troy
Possible reverse loop short?
Offline rhfil  
#4 Posted : 16 September 2025 15:48:13(UTC)
rhfil

United States   
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 730
Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
Should not be a reverse loop short as it is a simple circle. Could check for that though by setting the multimeter on dc voltage and checking for whether the voltage changes from positive to negative on the track in question. Solution might be to replace the track in question or if no replacement is available remove it and the same track on the opposite side. If the problem continues then it is not the track.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
Offline RudiC  
#5 Posted : 16 September 2025 22:53:41(UTC)
RudiC

Germany   
Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC)
Posts: 65
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
To paraphrase what you wrote: You have at least two locomotives that run fine on most of your single circle layout but stop one one specific straight piece of track. Measuring the voltage on this dubious track shows no voltage loss vs. the other parts of the circle.
That's a strange error, and that's little information.

Some questions:

- Do the locos stop on exactly the same spot?
- Is it guaranteed they don't create a short circuit?
- Do they stop in forward as well as in reverse direction?
- Do they stop if turned around?
- Do they run if power is applied directly to the track piece?
- Did you exchange / replace / reverse the dubious track pieces?
- Did you check the continuity / resistance of the track connectors?
- Did you measure voltage with some load applied consuming, say, 0.5 - 1 Ampere?
- Did you measure at various voltage settings?
Regards,
Rüdiger (Rudi)
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by RudiC
Offline kimballthurlow  
#6 Posted : 17 September 2025 22:20:57(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,782
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: luke_1 Go to Quoted Post
My trix track is a very simple circle. Today, the model train suddenly couldn't pass through one of the straight tracks. I started to look for the cause and tested it with a multimeter. There was no problem with the power. I changed to another train and tested it, but the problem still existed, which meant that the problem was not with the train. Then I wiped the track with an alcohol sponge, but it still couldn't pass after the test. I don't know if there are other ways to find the cause?


If you are using Trix C track (2 rail) and inadvertently include a section of Märklin C track (3 rail) you will get that odd circumstance.
Because when the locomotive wheels touch that section, the current on both rails will become the same polarity (postive or negative) and it will not run.
This happens because both brands of C track will clip perfectly into each other.

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
Offline RudiC  
#7 Posted : 17 September 2025 22:33:17(UTC)
RudiC

Germany   
Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC)
Posts: 65
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Go to Quoted Post

... using Trix C track (2 rail) and inadvertently include a section of Märklin C track (3 rail) ...

Kimball


Wouldn't that short circuit the entire layout?
Regards,
Rüdiger (Rudi)
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by RudiC
Offline kimballthurlow  
#8 Posted : 18 September 2025 00:07:35(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,782
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: RudiC Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Go to Quoted Post

... using Trix C track (2 rail) and inadvertently include a section of Märklin C track (3 rail) ...

Kimball


Wouldn't that short circuit the entire layout?


Thank you Rudic.
I believe I am correct, because the fine gaps between the C track rails at the connection point, isolate each section of C track if it were not for the undertrack connections.
I think I would need to test it, but that might take a few days to locate the parts.
The other questions might be what controller or power supply (analog or digital) Luke is using.
And then whether or not he gets a short circuit annunciation.
Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

| Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.535 seconds.