controller seems to lack power

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B

botangles

Member
I'm starting a layout size 9'x4'. I have an outside oval 22" radius and an inside oval 18" radius with an S curve going through the middle of the 18" radius connecting both sides and a couple turnouts on the inside oval as well. For power I'm using Tech 4 MRC 280 dual control. Tested the outside oval, it works fine. But trying the inside oval nothing worked. But when I disconnected the S curve that connects the inside oval the engine ran fine. That's telling me this controller hasn't the juice to handle a layout even this small. I have only one connection on each oval, and nothing connected to the accessory. I know this power unit only puts out .61 amps per side. Would connecting the track in 2 or 3 different places ( are these called hubs ) help, or do I need a more powerful power pack? Thanks for listening.
 
The power pack is probably fine. Your "S curve" is a short. It's a reversing section and needs to be wired for that function. When you disconnect one side, you remove the short, so it works.

I'm on a really crappy connection at the moment. I don't know if this post will even go through, so I'm not going to try an explanation with links to examples, but I'm sure someone else will.

Good luck
 


The S-curve is a type of reverse loop. It's a short because the left rail and the right rail touch each other and become the same rail.
 
shorting out

So what your saying is in model railroading a figure eight wouldn't work, my S curve on my oval was like a figure eight without the second loop.
 
A figure 8 will work because the tracks are not crossing.

Can you draw up a diagram of your track? I can show you what I am talking about.
 
S curve shorting out

I understand what your saying about shorting my controller out, I tried other configurations and they all worked. Thanks for all your input.
 
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