I am having an issue with one of my Atlas N scale signals. I’ve got my signal system wired correctly, however I’ve noticed that if I move or bend the wires running to the signal it will not light up. If I move or bend the wires some more it will finally light back up. I have two Atlas signals, and only one does this. Could this be a loose connection in the signal head or is this normal? I’ve noticed the wires running to the signal do not have insulation on them. This is how Atlas made them, but the question I have is what keeps these wires from shorting out without any insulation? A friend of mine has some NJ International signals, and they’re just like the Atlas ones, they don’t have any insulation on the wires either.
Those wires are insulated with an enamel or laquer coating applied when the wire was made. As long as the enamel or laquer doesn’t get scraped or scratched the integrity of the insulation will be OK. I Have some of those signals and found that some of the connections can get loose or break at their connection where the wire transitions to the multi-colored telephone wire. Probably a loose connection under the shrink tubing covering the splice. It could also be in those little connectors too.
I’m going to check those connections. If I can’t find out what’s wrong with it, I’ll probably contact Atlas.
I checked all the connections, and I think I I found the problem. I pressed on the connector where the telephone wire is and that didn’t do any good. Then, I pressed on the wires that run to the signal head (where the black insulation is right below the signal head) and the problem seems to have gone away. As long as I can get it to work most of the time, I’ll just try and use it as is.