Well I finally got around to putting the switches in as well as drilling holes to get ready for the easy switch maching that Joe Fugate does. I basically added 3 more switches to one part of the layout to make it a total of 6 in a 4 foot area. I went to start connecting the feeders to the main power lines around the track and I can get power but it all stops at the begining of my 4 foot section with all the switches… It all worked before but I just have power now to the one main line… I am very very confused even when I hook up the second line I get the lights flashing on my DCC console… I am sure this is not enough info for you guys to help me I am just venting and of course my 3 year old boy does not understand… The only thing I can think of doing is taking up the track that i just layed with all the switches nad doing it peice by peice with power to see where the issues are… Joseph
Hi,
Firstly, “don’t panic”! 
It sounds like you’ve got a feeder or two crossed somewhere along the line (no pun intended!) - You said when you try to power a second section you get ‘flashing lights’ on the controller - This is typically a short circuit causing the booster to shut down and ‘alarm’. So, what to do?..
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Hopefully your feed wires are connected to barrier blocks so that you can easily disconnect 'em… Start there - Disconnect all the ‘new stuff’. Connect your mainline and apply power and hopefully you’ll not get the short, and a loco will run.
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Start reconnecting your feeders, pair by pair, and checking on the newly powered section - If it’s good, move on, if you see the flashing lights again, reverse the feeders and retest.
It wasn’t clear how you’re passing power from one side of a switch to the other - Presumably additional feeders? - Again, check polarity and do not assume power will get passed thru’ the frogs.
HTH,
Ian
Hey thanks for the note… I am still trying to get this going… I disconnected all the new feeders. I can get power to the main line now but it still stops going in either direction when I get to the section with the new switches.***soon as I try and connect the feeders I get a short when I just put in a peice of track I get a short… If I use the plactic rail connectors I am able to keep the power put as soon as the train goes over the plastic feeders it just stops and there is no power past the plasctic rail connectors…
I am using the Digitrax Zepher do I still need another booster???Also I am also using pretty heavy guage copper wire as the main lines into the Zepher… LMK Joseph
What brand turnouts are you using? Some brands, such as Walthers and Peco have powered frogs which can create a short if not insulated and wired correctly. The diverging ends of these turnouts must be insulated and feeder wires added beyond the insulated rail joiners. If these turnouts are powered from the diverging end, a short circuit will be created which will shut down your DCC system. The auto shut off is a safety feature to prevent the delicate decoders from frying when a short circuit is created.
I’m jumping in here late, so I apologize if this has already been covered.
But it sounds like you may have introduced a reverse loop. If that’s the case, you will need either a toggle switch or an automatic reversing unit to switch the polarity.
HTH,
Steve
I am using Atlas Turnouts…I will try and put the feeders on the other end and see what happens… It has actually been a challange to work on this as it is a permanent layout and we are having fun as well as the boy can at least still play with the trains as a point to point… Joseph
Firstly, no, you don’t need another booster - At least not yet.
OK - I’m not sure what you’re saying here - If you install insulating joiners you ‘keep power’? - You must therefore have another pair of feeders connected to these rails ‘beyond’ the plastic joiners? - If not magic is happening
So, I would suggest reversing the feeder wire connections to the section beyond the plastic joiners and trying again - Please report back!
Cheers,
Ian
If you can post a track plan, it might be helpful. I always check out the track immediately after installing any new feeder to the track. If I get a short, I know where the problem is and usually don’t have to spend a lot of time troubleshooting. One question, do the new switches and trackwork create a “return Loop” anywhere within that section? Does the train run when completely in the new section? If it stops as it crosses the boundary, then 1. you have a wire reversed somewhere, or 2 you have created a reverse loop, or a wye. Hope you find the solution soon. Post back and let us know what you have found.
But it sounds like you may have introduced a reverse loop. If that’s the case, you will need either a toggle switch or an automatic reversing unit to switch the polarity.
Anyone know a good automatic reversinfg unit ?
I’ve used the MRC Auto Reverse Module and they’ve worked well. The loop has to be completely isolated and then you just hook-up two wires to main and two wires to the loop. Done, the unit automatically senses the loco and adjusts as necessary. I’ve used MRC, Atlas and Digitraxx decoders without problems.
Thanks for all the info… I am going to try a few things out as I have progressed a little bit through all these switches. I put in for a free web site on the train web so you can see what the hell I am talking about… J
DCC can be a challenge maybe that Is why i been thinking about dcc on my next layout.Since I’ll be the only one operating there might not be the need to go DCC. Just keep trying Joseph
I’m a complete beginner at all of this. My layout is only 8 weeks old and I’m lucky that I have a mentor who is an electronic genius or I never would have had the guts to make the transition to DCC. Please feel free to email him with your questions if this problem does not get corrected after next thursday, as he is at a trade show in Dalles Texas. His email address is scaletta@techprosusa.com
Good luck.
Well after a few weeks of working on it after work I have worked out the issues. I will begin designing the yard in the next few days and I will keep you posted as well as some photos Joseph