This is a problem that has been plaguing me since I transitioned to DCC. When I leave my locomotives off for times such as 2 weeks they tend to stop and go, and shut off and restart while running. Then once they go around the layout a few times they are ok. Anyone know whats wrong?
Its probably dust or a buildup of something on your tracks. Once your loco’s run through it a few times it rubs the crud off. I’ve noticed the same thing over the last few weeks on my layout. I doubt very much it is anything to do with your loco’s or your DCC system.
I agree with TA462’s assessment – dirty track. And, depending on the brand of locomotive, your wheels may be corroding between running sessions and need to be cleaned.
I don’t run DCC and this happens to me as well.
i clean my track with a bright boy track cleaner…it looks like an eraser and you can get them from a LHS…then on a soft cloth, i’ll put a drop of wahl’s clipper oil and lightly run it across the rail tops…the oil will keep the rail cleaner longer and retard any oxidation that may build up on the rail over a period of time…chuck
I posted a similar question at another forum, but I also wanted to ask the experts here too.
Some of my signals are prewired, either with bulbs or LED’s. The pre-wired bulb signals are great, just hook them and they are ready to go. My signaling system is little different from the fact that I use it to indicate power to the block, not necessarily to control the trains, and they look really good.
The pre-wired LED’s are good, but don’t forget to add the resistor, or you’ll blow out the LED. I’ve done that. Model Power has small light bulbs, and they already have the resistor installed.
It’s the Oregon Rails kits that come as kits and they have LED’s and the resistors but I somehow lost the wiring instruction.
On the LED there are the two contacts, with one of the contacts having a small cross piece, making it look like a plus sign, the other contact is just straight without the cross piece added… My problem is I am not sure which contact the resistor is attached too. Is the side with the small cross piece near the LED or the other contact without the cross piece.
Any help would be greatly appresiated.
WTRR
It seems to me that the contact with the cross piece is probably the positive. The resistor connects to the positive contact.