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 amirlior  
#1 Posted : 18 July 2012 17:19:22(UTC)
amirlior


Joined: 07/10/2011(UTC)
Posts: 30
hallo all.

i think that i have a short circuit on my track.
in some places on the track all the locomotives stop and can't keep going even their light's turn off.
i tried to change the tracks but it didn't work.
what should i do?
Offline river6109  
#2 Posted : 18 July 2012 17:41:19(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,874
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
there are specific reasons why.

a.) is your layout analog or digital
b.) if it is just on one spot it is not a short
c.) if you would have a short in the track no loco would run anwywhere
d.) what type of tracks are you using.
e.) make sure all wires brown and red are connected and there are no loose connections.
f.) make sure the track is clean.
g.) do the loco stop at the same spot all the time ?
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline amirlior  
#3 Posted : 18 July 2012 17:57:36(UTC)
amirlior


Joined: 07/10/2011(UTC)
Posts: 30
my layout is digital.
i am using c track.
the track is clean and there are no loose connections.
all the locos stop at the same point all the time.
Offline jeehring  
#4 Posted : 18 July 2012 18:59:12(UTC)
jeehring


Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,786
Location: ,
...re-clean...then re-verify the connections...
Then re-reclean....re-reverify the connections ...
Then...re-re-re-clean....re-re-re-verify....
(including the center spikes from the third rail)
etc....
(" re-re-re-re"....ect : it happens to me already) Wink
What happens with a light bulb connected between 1 rail and 1 center stud ?...
are the track well flat...? ...no play ?
Is there a loosen insulator somewhere ?...
Offline mike c  
#5 Posted : 18 July 2012 19:11:02(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,225
Location: Montreal, QC
Originally Posted by: amirlior Go to Quoted Post
hallo all.

i think that i have a short circuit on my track.
in some places on the track all the locomotives stop and can't keep going even their light's turn off.
i tried to change the tracks but it didn't work.
what should i do?


1) You said that you changed the tracks, but it did not make a difference.

Did the problem appear to be at the connection of two track segments or in the middle of a track section (piece)?

2) What is the length of the "dead" section? (a few mm, a few cm, etc?)

3) Do you have a voltage/resistance meter? Have you tested the voltage or track resistance in that area?

4) If the particular section is located at the top or bottom of an incline/descent, it is possible that this may cause a momentary loss of power at slow speed. Is the affected section level, straight or curved?

5) How long is your layout? Could you not try installing a booster to see if this improves the situation?

One trick you can try here is to disconnect the transformer from the tracks at it's current location and to reconnect it adjacent to the tracks where you are having issues. If the problem now appears at another location, it is possible that your layout requires additional power supply/boosters.

When testing, it is always useful to test using a car or coach with lighting/tail lights to test the current in addition to a locomotive as this enables you to move the coach/car mm by mm to check the area.

Regards

Mike C



Offline amirlior  
#6 Posted : 19 July 2012 18:35:31(UTC)
amirlior


Joined: 07/10/2011(UTC)
Posts: 30
1. In some tracks it happen in he middle at others at the connection point it's not consistently
2. it's seems strange but it's stops on the track if I move the loko a few cm on the same track it's start working.
3. I dont have a voltage meter and I didnt test the voltage on the track but I will buy one tomorrow.
4. at some places on the layout if the loko drive slowly it will stop if on the same place I will increase the speed the loko will pass the track again also on high speed it can stop.
5. I don't have a booster my layout is 2.00m long X 1.00 Width 2 X circles (2 parralel) I'm using cs 60652 with 18 VA trasformer

It worked perfect for 2 months till last Monday.
Can you give me more details about the booster catalog no, output...etc

Regards,
Michael
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by amirlior
Offline river6109  
#7 Posted : 19 July 2012 18:59:55(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,874
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Michael,

For future refences it is vital we get all the informations so we can pass on the right solutions.

What has become more clear now is, how many locos do you operate at the same time, are there passenger carriages with interior lights ?
Are you living in an humid environment.
these are the signs of power failure or power getting to your loco.
another question you can assk yourself have you changed anything in the last 2 month have added anything to the layout in the last 2 month.
If you operate 3 locos maximum and with no interior lights in your carriages you should be able to run it with an 18 V transformer.
Your mobile station is it the updated version ?

Don't even think about a booster, this unit is not designed for boosters.

regards.,

John

Edited by user 20 July 2012 03:44:59(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by river6109
Offline Chris6382chris  
#8 Posted : 19 July 2012 19:56:58(UTC)
Chris6382chris

United States   
Joined: 27/11/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,218
Location: Middle of the US
I think you need to determine if the short is in the track, is it being caused by a wagon or engine or is somehing else going on. So I would start with running just one engine around the track and seeing if the short happens. You said it happens at one point in your layout, is a slider on the engine making contact with the outer rail and center rail at this point? Is it a turnout? If the Engine runs around your layout fine then I would look at the passenger wagons as mentioned in the previous post, if they have a slider for interior lighting they could cause a short. If you can't run any of your locomotives around the track without things shorting out I would suggest you disassemble your c track and as you reassemble it run an engine on the track as you add sections to see where the short is. You should be able to add more and more track until you hit the problem. I hope this helps.

Chris
Offline river6109  
#9 Posted : 20 July 2012 03:49:03(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,874
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Michael,

One thing happened to me once with a sraight C --track, the track itself seperated itself from the contacts, not visible or noticable unless you look for it, such as the loco stops for no reason.
Getting a multimeter is the best idea and this will determine where the fault lies and hopefully we will hear from you soon everything has been sorted out.

Good Luck

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline cookee_nz  
#10 Posted : 20 July 2012 05:39:21(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,994
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: amirlior Go to Quoted Post
1. In some tracks it happen in he middle at others at the connection point it's not consistently
2. it's seems strange but it's stops on the track if I move the loko a few cm on the same track it's start working.
3. I dont have a voltage meter and I didnt test the voltage on the track but I will buy one tomorrow.
4. at some places on the layout if the loko drive slowly it will stop if on the same place I will increase the speed the loko will pass the track again also on high speed it can stop.
5. I don't have a booster my layout is 2.00m long X 1.00 Width 2 X circles (2 parralel) I'm using cs 60652 with 18 VA trasformer

It worked perfect for 2 months till last Monday.
Can you give me more details about the booster catalog no, output...etc

Regards,
Michael


Michael,

Couple of question if I may. Some people 'think in pictures' (if you know what I mean), I am one of them, so whatever you describe I can only relate to by forming an image in my mind. Usually for me it's a good thing. Sometimes, it's a pain, like when you hear certain noises that instantly conjure up an image - people using the bathroom is a good example. Blushing Blushing

But I digress, (just a little).... what I'd like to know is you say it's a C-track double-oval, so have you built it from a plan, perhaps from a starter-set instruction sheet or from a catalogue, are you able to post an image of the plan, or a photo of your actual layout and indicate where the loco stops?

The other thing is that you say it ran fine until just recently and the problem was immediate, rather than getting gradually worse.

If you were using M or K track, we would have a much wider range of possible causes, but C-track rules out many things so the sudden stopping of your loco at the same point every time means a loss of power. Either to the TRACK at that spot, or to the SLIDER (or wheels) at that spot.

You say if you push the loco a short distance it runs again? How long is a 'short distance',? one complete track length, or how many sleepers?

Is there a track join right where it stops? Is it on a turnout, detection track etc?

If the slider (pickup) is losing contact, it could be getting lifted up by some interference? (something foreign stuck around the studs)

If you can't easily get a multimeter, you could at least get a normal 12-16v lamp with two wires and check the power to the outer rails and the center studs?

You also said at the start that you 'changed the track' - does this mean you removed the section where it stops and substituted another in its place?

Your previous postings indicate you have more than one Loco, do they all stop at the same spot or just one?

If nothing seems to work, do you live anywhere near another forum member who might be able to assist? (your profile does not indicate where in the world you are).

Cheers

Steve
Wellington, NZ
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
Offline mike c  
#11 Posted : 20 July 2012 10:25:50(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,225
Location: Montreal, QC
I wanted to quickly revisit this issue...

1) You stated that all your locomotives are having this problem. How many locomotives are we talking about?

2) You are using a 60652 CS. Have you upgraded the software on your CS since you received it?

3) You stated that it worked for 2 months . Have you been keeping your tracks set up and your trains on the layout or do you keep them in their box(es)?

4) Is it possible that the third rail slider of the loks has been damaged. Check to see that they are straight, evenly positioned and extended.

5) Have you tested the track using a coach/car with lights/taillights?

To: All the members, I don't think that Michael is referring to a short, but rather to one or more "dead" spots on his tracks. If there was a short, you would be able to hear the noise and the controller would reset.

Regards

Mike C
Offline amirlior  
#12 Posted : 20 July 2012 19:01:52(UTC)
amirlior


Joined: 07/10/2011(UTC)
Posts: 30

Thank you all for the detailed answer I think that one of the answer was the solution for the problem. I clean the tracks very well and it's start working again I think that humidity was the reason to the problem.
again thak you all for the answers
Offline cookee_nz  
#13 Posted : 20 July 2012 23:47:31(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,994
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: amirlior Go to Quoted Post

Thank you all for the detailed answer I think that one of the answer was the solution for the problem. I clean the tracks very well and it's start working again I think that humidity was the reason to the problem.
again thak you all for the answers


Well done, sounds like dirt on the track or on top of the studs, you got it sorted and that's main thing

Cheers

Cookee
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
Users browsing this topic
Guest (3)
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 0.599 seconds.