Fixed Voltage Plug on 022 switches

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have several 022 postwar switches that I am trying to wire with the Fixed Voltage plug. I have gotten this to work before, but now I can’t. I just added an Atlas controller for block control, and that is working just fine. I have a postwar ZW, with the fixed Voltage Plug coming back to Post B (A and U are for being used for track power) I thought when you insterted in the fixed voltage plug, track power was disabled? However in my case track power keeps working. I have tried this on several of my switches and keep getting the same result. I have tried multiple fixed voltage plugs, and switch controllers and everything keeps running off track power. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Chris

2

A recent topic concerned a fixed-voltage jack with a bent contact that would not allow a switch to operate from track power. Is it possible that a previous owner bypassed the jack as a way to solve this kind of problem?

3

I have checked the contacts and they look fine. Thanks for the suggestion.

I am thinking about trying to use a multimeter to test the voltage plug, but I am not sure how to test it. Any ideas?

4

Are your A & U switched at either end?

U goes to CTC clip 2, outside rail, when wiring switches for fixed/constant voltage on the ZW, A to center rail, B to the screw on the fixed plug.

Another possibility is that the B arm in the transformer is hung up on or shorted to the A arm, but that would manifest itself visually or in the form of an internal short across the secondary.

Rob

5

The best I can come up with is that the voltage plug is not put in straight or the fixed voltage plug is bad or there is an inside wiring problem with the switch. Try powering the switch seperately from the track(take it out of the layout completely and try it by itself).
If that don’t work take the cover off of where the fixed voltage plug goes in and make sure it fits correctly, then test it. The worst case is that the solenoid will need repair or replacing.
Lee F.

6

I finally got everything fixed. I had the common reversed. Now everything works just fine.

Thanks for the help.

Chris

7

I finally got everything fixed. I had the common reversed. Now everything works just fine.

Thanks for the help.

Chris