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well tonight was the second night of test running a section of layout, its built as a shelf layout the section is 16"x 60". completely dc, it consists of 4 remote switches. the power i'm using is a proto 1000 gp 15-1 ,things were going great until i stopped put it in reverse, the engine made a lil hum but did not move. so i put it in forward ok it started to run normal, but it won't stop! i had to turn the power off to stop it what could be the issue
ty
mark
If your power supply is dc and not DCC, the problem would have to be in the power pack. Seems that the rheostat (speed control) may be bad. If the windings are arced across, that would disable the ability to vary the voltage to the track, which would cause the problem of not slowing down or stopping unless you shut off the power to the power pack. What kind of controller are you using? Do you have this problem with any other locos? DISCLAIMER: I am just a boilermaker, not an electrician. However, I think that what I have offered as an explanation is a step above a WAG.
I agree, your power supply is still providing a couple of volts to the rails when the dial is turned down to zero. You have unwanted contact inside the device where wires are meant to have space between them and the counterparts supplying voltage to the winding. If it is new, ask for a replacement. Ideally, try another unit borrowed from someone to see if the phenomenon presents once more. I doubt it.
the power source is an mrc control master 20. i tried a different engine, still the same issue except when it does run it is real slow. i changed out power packs, same thing happened. then i traced what i had done before the problem started, there is a switch that i had been working on, the switches are the atlas code 83 snap switches with the metal frog, the switch itself was sitting a little higher then the track so i drilled 3 holes in one tie and pushed in some track nails which leveled out the track then a lil after that the problem started, i forgot these switches have small stiff wires under some of the ties, maybe this one tie was a wire under it the tie . the tie is the 4th one behind the frog on a number 4 switch the tie lines up with the screw on the attached switch machine. so i'm thinking of pulling up the switch what do you think?
thanks
mark
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ok took the turnout and still having the same problem
Troubleshooting is a PITA for what it's worth. One thing that I have always done when troubleshooting is check what was the last thing done before the problem started. I would disconnect that module and see if the problem reoccurs. If it doesn't then the problem will be in the wiring of that new module somewhere.
ok the katest update is the problem still exists, the switch in question i took out still having the problem, i opened up the walk around controller there was a broken wire to the speed dial so i re soldered it, tried it out the train will go back in forth fast and need to shut the power off to stop it.
ok i swapped out a power pack that comes with a bachman ez track set. so i unplugged the original controller and hooked up the bachman, same back and forth problem. could the switches themselves have the problem as mentioned they have the metal frogs, i just wired the attached switch machines and did not put any gaps in the stock rails thanks
mk
the switches should not just be powered all of the time. do you have both the walkaround throttle and a power pack hooked up at the same time? what happens if you disconnect the walkaround throttle and operate with just the power pack? the loco needs power and ground to run, look at how many things that you have hooked up to the track to provide them.
thanks for the help the problem is the power pack or walk around controller
if you have tried multiple power packs i would lay odds on the walk around controller being the culprit.
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