All,
I have a particular Legacy diesel that has problems receiving the signal at a particular place on the track. It does fine everywhere else. Also, I have several other Legacy and TMCC locomotives that have no signal problems anywhere on my layout. On the problem engine, the lights will flash and the engine will stop. I have already cleaned the track with a “bright boy”( this is a device the HO guys use, it looks like an eraser). I have heard that if I run a wire alongside this place in the track that is tied to the house grounding wire, that will strengthen the signal. I plan on tying a #16 stranded copper wire to the third terminal of a standard three prong plug and simply placing that wire close by to the track without actually connecting it to the track. The three prong plug will simply be plugged in to the outlet in the wall. Will this work?
Whether it will make your Legacy system work, I don’t know. But it should get you the ground that you’re looking for. You might want to check the outlet to be sure that the equipment-ground terminal is properly connected. You should see 120 volts AC between it and the terminal immediately counter-clockwise from it and 0 (or almost 0) volts between it and the terminal immediately clockwise from it.
Here’s what I do when I have a signal problem on a specific engine at a specific spot:
- Clean the track including the inside face of the outer two rails with either Goo Gone or an electric parts cleaner.
- Clean the locomotives pick up rollers and contact wheels with either Goo Gone or electric parts cleaner. I also use my Dremel to get the gunk off. Don’t mess
Thanks to the both of you for you replies. I am going to try all the advice and hopefully get this thing fixed.
George