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This is getting aggravating now. I'm rebuilding the wiring for the track power so that I could use the edge connectors on the circuit cards. I'm having problems with one section of track. Somehow, its getting power with no wires connected to it at all. I've checked each end of the rail and have isolated them. I have cut every single power drop to the rails and still, I'm getting power to it. This is somewhere between spooky and aggravating. I've been working on this for about 4 hours now. I'm was beginning to think it may be the BDL168 detection board, but when I cut all wires, power and common, I changed my mind. There must be some connection to the track somehow. I really don't want to have to tear the track up off the roadbed to find it. I had a similar problem a couple years ago and it turned out to be a connection that got pulled into a pass through hole in the benchwork. How amazing, but I had to cut all the wires from those tracks to find that too.
That sounds like a complete night mare Ken. I hope you find it the easy way but it certainly doesn't make any sense at all. As you said, there has to be power getting to it from somewhere. Have you tried cutting the power to the tracks either side of this section? Don't know if that will achieve anything but might also narrow down where problem maybe if you then loose to the section of track that is already suppose to be powerless. I'm just guessing of course.
I did some poking around, disconnecting different sections and did find that a section of track that is some 20 feet away from this mystery section may have something to do with it. When that section, Section 7 is plugged into the detection board, section 14 becomes powered as well as section 7. Section 14 power lead and common is completely disconnected from everything. When I connect or disconnect the common for section 7 which will include section 5,6, 7 & 8, section 14 goes dead. Section 14 should have a common with section 13, 15 & 16 but I cut them to trouble shoot. There is no rolling stock straddling the section joints.
There's a way to detect power feeds in a complex circuit, and 50 years ago I could have told you how to do it, but it's gone, along with all sorts of other important things, from what's left of my cerebral cortex.
I was going to do that tomorrow. I was going to gather up all the little detection LED boards and plug them into the BDL168 on section 3. I have been using a volt ohm meter to determine which block was powering up. That was a lot of walking around. I was going to park a loco on each block so I could see the headlight turn on and off as I tested the power. LED boards would work better.
I still haven't got to the SE8C board yet, but that will only be dealing with the turnouts and push button activators.
While on the topic of the turnouts. I had wired the track power of turnouts to block 15 of the BDL168. When I went on to wire the other two power districts I powered the turnouts with the track power coming from the direction of the points. Frederick told me that would cause problems with the detection system, but it hasn't. I think I'll do that with the turnouts in power district 1 and free up another detection block.
Got it. I went through the wiring again and as I suspected. A connection was being made where wires passed through a 2x4. Both bare wires ended up right next to each other and got pulled into the wood beam were they couldn't be seen. After correcting that, I went through each connection to the BDL168 and tested them for isolation to the correct track section. A lot of walking back and forth to check things out.
Now, its on to the SE8C and the turnouts. After that, I'll check the programming of the signals.
The wires were bared to make track connections. Only a short section, 1/2" or so to get a solder point. Just by coincidence that these two points were close enough together that further tugging on the wires for one reason or another finally pulled them together in a concealed location.
I have two turnouts wired up and operating now. The rats nest is slowly going away.
Ahh okay, it sounded as though the entire wire itself was bare. Glad you found the problem though Ken and maybe a bit of insulation tape in that particular area might avoid any future problem.
Exercise, yes. Probably at least 3 miles of walking.
I installed another industrial siding in the process too. Once again, I don't know what kind of industry I'll put in there, but there will be one.
Took a break from the intense wiring and circuit board work and did some detailing on a bulk head flat with steel plate load and a flat car load with steel conduits.
Chains holding a load down add quite a bit to the detailing.
