DCC newbie

[Harveyb]

Hi ive just started the hobby and got a hornby select. I started the wiring today following various youtube videos however when i go to put the red and black bus wires into the select the display just flickers as seen in the picture below. Im unsure if I have done the wiring wrong please find photos of my wiring below would appreciate the help as I don’t know where to start!

 

[PMW]

HI. I'm sorry but I can't tell much from the pics and I'm not familiar with that controller.

I'm wondering if the flickering indicates a short circuit. I would go over your wiring again and make absolute sure you don't have a black wire to the the red rail or visa-versa.

Also a pic of your track plan may help to make sure you haven't included a reversing loop in the track plan. That would cause a short until properly addressed.

Good luck

 

[Harveyb]

HI. I'm sorry but I can't tell much from the pics and I'm not familiar with that controller.

I'm wondering if the flickering indicates a short circuit. I would go over your wiring again and make absolute sure you don't have a black wire to the the red rail or visa-versa.

Also a pic of your track plan may help to make sure you haven't included a reversing loop in the track plan. That would cause a short until properly addressed.

Good

 

[Harveyb]

Hi thanks a lot for responding with advice, I’ve checked the wires and they all go to the correct rail maybe the photo below helps?

 

[PMW]

Hi thanks a lot for responding with advice, I’ve checked the wires and they all go to the correct rail maybe the photo below helps? View attachment 193400

Well I'm somewhat new to this hobby myself but I'll try again. Is there a loco on the track when you plug bus wires into controller? If so take it off and see what happens. There could be a short in the loco. Also there could be a short in the controller itself. Or...It's not a short at all.

Maybe someone familiar with your system will see your post.

 

[Harveyb]

T

Well I'm somewhat new to this hobby myself but I'll try again. Is there a loco on the track when you plug bus wires into controller? If so take it off and see what happens. There could be a short in the loco. Also there could be a short in the controller itself. Or...It's not a short at all.

Maybe someone familiar with your system will see your post.

Thank you I take it this is the right way for the wires to go or is it the other way round? The photo shows the front and the back of the track

 

[PMW]

I believe your controller should have inputs for your wires that are color coded (hopefully black and red). As long as all red wires go to the inside rail and all black wires go to the outside rail or visa-versa you should be good .

It may not even be a short but you can also check to make sure the black and red wires are not touching where they are connected to the controller. Also make sure you didn't leave some uninsulated wire or a metal tool across both rails. Make sure no black and red are touching somewhere underneath.

I'm starting to think it's not a short but take a look.

 

[timlange3]

Okay, if you have an oval as pictured then in the previous two photos it appears the red wire goes to the inside rail in the first photo and to the outside rail in the second photo. Is that correct? If so, you have a short. All the reds should go to the same rail, all the blacks should go to the other rail.

 

[PMW]

Okay, if you have an oval as pictured then in the previous two photos it appears the red wire goes to the inside rail in the first photo and to the outside rail in the second photo. Is that correct? If so, you have a short. All the reds should go to the same rail, all the blacks should go to the other rail.

No. The OP indicated those pics were the same thing from two different angles. It's hard to tell but I think the curvature of the track confirms that.

I received so much help here, now that I'm getting a little more experience, I would love to help someone out who's just starting....but I don't know what's going on here

 

[Smudge617]

I would suggest first double-checking if there is nothing on the track or between the rail ties, if that's clear then disconnect one set of feeders and see if the problem persists, this is a small layout so one set will power it, but I'm suspecting either a short or a problem with the controller.

The controller you are using, is it brand new, an old one you've had for a while, or recently bought second-hand ?

 

[timlange3]

No. The OP indicated those pics were the same thing from two different angles. It's hard to tell but I think the curvature of the track confirms that.

I received so much help here, now that I'm getting a little more experience, I would love to help someone out who's just starting....but I don't know what's going on here

No, they are not the same track, look closely at where the wires go into the roadbed, it is different in each photo.

 

[PMW]

No, they are not the same track, look closely at where the wires go into the roadbed, it is different in each photo.

Yup, you're right. Haven't heard from the OP for a while....maybe it was just a short

 

[Smudge617]

Yup, you're right. Haven't heard from the OP for a while....maybe it was just a short

He did post on another forum so he might have got an answer there.