Hello again,

I'm just trying to sort out the 3 conductors going from the switch control unit over to the transfer table.

In cracking open the control switch, I can see there is a bridge rectifier in there, so it is flipping AC to DC

And as it is a DC motor, they are flipping the polarity on the motor to change it's direction.

I want to control this with the CTI-Controllers, and am trying to sort out what the green wire if for.

In looking at the underside, there are 3 rails.

The innermost - Red is non-descript, and runs the length.

The middle rail is Green, and has plastic bumps to what I assume are to disconnect the contact to make it stop.

The Outside rail is black and is also non-descript.

But the metal fingers on the transfer unit itself is shorting out the green and black rails.

I'm trying to sort out how to computer control this.

I would appreciate any help

Thanks.

Michael

Markus,

Something happened.

I basically cleaned up the contacts a bit, and now, it doesn't stop on the bumps. It just keeps rolling past each lane.

I checked continuity from the switch to the transfer table, and the 3 wires are good.

I really didn't do anything else.

Any ideas as to why the bumps aren't tripping it to stop?

It seems like the circuit just isn't getting interrupted by the bumps.

Thanks.

Michael

Ya know what, I'm sure I flipped a wire on the switch unit

I had just finished desoldering the wire (RGB) on the switch unit, and said to myself, hmm, I didn't take a picture of that.

That sounds like it is the issue (flipped wire), as it was working perfectly before.

I'm pleased to report, I'm making good progress. I have 3 blocks powered up (center red), and have 2 more blocks to finish this evening.

Then I'll be walking into a ton of turnouts. So tomorrow will be a lot more work.

This layout is so old, I'm gently pulling up virtually all of the track as I go checking, cleaning, and fresh wire all along the way.

I'll take some pictures, but I have to say it was adorable.

I put power on this one segment that is like only 8 feet long, and ran an engine down it, and my friend said that's the 1st time that a locomotive has run on this layout since '96.

He was pretty happy.

Michael