Lionel Fastrack Command Control Switches

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently installed nine fastrack switches that I purchased over a year ago (these are new switches). I have common power bus that feeds all nine switches and the switches tie back to a common ground for the entire layout. I modified each switch to run on transformer power from an accessory transformer. When I power up the switches 7 out of 9 switches light up and work as expected from the manual switch. The other two 072 switches do no power up. I completed the following troubleshooting:

  1. I installed a spare command control switch in place of each switch that does not work from the transformer, and the spare switch powers up as expected. I used the same power and common ground wires from the layout.

2, I disconnected the switches that do not work and I reinstalled the jumper to run off track power. I installed a section of straight track and installed jumpers from a lionel 80W transformer and both switches powered up and operated from the remote switch. Therefore both switches work as expected from track power.

  1. I reinstalled the layout power and common ground wires to the two switches that originally did not work, and both switches did not power up. Here I go again. I used my volt meter and I was able to read approximately 16 volts between the power and common ground sections of the switch. I also disconnected the power and common wires from the two switches again, and I was reading approximately 16 volts between the power and ground wire.

Does anyone have any ideas why I may have two 072 command control switches that do not power up from an accessory transformer. It seems odd that these two switches have the same issue, yet the remaining 7 switches operate as expected. Also, the two 072 switches work on track power, and when I install a spare switch in place of the other switch it works as expected from the transformer power. Please note that the two 072 switches that do not power up from the transformer are new (never used) switches that I pur

2

Be suspicious of the jumper for aux/track power on the switch. I’ve seen a couple lately where, fresh out of the box, the jumper is installed for “aux”, but works fine for track power. Moving to “track”, and track power won’t work. Didn’t mess with trying a separate power supply, but I’d assume the internal wiring of the switch is boned. Just a thought…

3

Although I don’t have a resolution to your specific issue, you might appreciate seeing some of the insights a CTT contributor shared in the November 2011 one-page (pg. 86) article (Tips, Tools, & Techniques), “Troubleshooting FasTrack turnouts.”

Kent

4

Thanks for your reply. I completed additional troubleshooting and I noted that both switches work good with the jumper installed and running off track power. I also removed the accessory power wire from the auxiliary in connection and installed the power wire to the track jumper connection and both switches powered up and operated properly from the manual remote swtich. It seems that the two connections may be either crosstied or installed backwards. Thanks again.

5

Kent,

The resolution was the two Fastrack command control switches were wired incorrectly at the factory. After reading the article in the November 2011 Classic Toy Train magazine, I decided that it would be best that Lionel correct the wiring issue. I sent the two switches back to Lionel for repair. Both switches are now installed on my layout and work as design. My switches were past the one year warrantee period, but this was the first time that I actually used them, so they repaired them under the warrantee. Thanks for your response, as every bit of information helps. I realized that repairing these switches myself was really outside my skill level.

Thanks.