Hi guys,
I am running dc and my locos keep stalling on peco points (ho scale) when running at a slowish speed. How can I fix this?
Thanks, Happywarrior
Gidday, Depending on how you’ve feed them, I’d still be checking for “Crud” build up between the blade and its corresponding contact area of track.
If you use the “Search Our Community” half way down the advertising on the right side of the page, especially in the" Electronics and DCC" section they may be helpful answers there.
Again depends if your layout is in a climate controlled environment, but I’m personally a big fan of feeding every bit of rail you can, may be unnecessary in the US MId West, but the last time I was in Queensland it was Hot and Humid.
Cheers,the Bear.
Run it faster or power the turnout (probably the frog causing the issue). My recommendation is a Hex frog juicer.
The turnout is what does cause the problem
Gidday again. At the risk of trying to teach you “how to suck eggs”; (1) do the rails to the left of the insulated plastic have a good electrical feed; (2) would still be checking for crud between the blades and rail contact area, and (3) checking your locos for clean wheels and electrical pick ups. I have an old Rivarossi 0-4-0 with a very short wheel base who doesn’t particularly like Peco Insulfrog Points and does need a bit of speed to go through them, would have thought that more modern locos wouldn’t have too many problems.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers, the Bear.
Could it also be a problem with the number of pickups
Both JaBear and Happywarrior bring up excellent points. If the loco is stalling on the frog, then would power it. If, however the loco stalls before it reaches the frog, check the areas in the photo below. And as Happywarrior points out, if the loco does not have all wheel pickup, you may need to add wipers to the wheels that are not powered.
What JaBear is mentioning about cleaning the stock rail and the points is shown in the green circle. The points on PECO turnouts get power from the stock rails. (Photo courtesy of JaBear)
Hey JaBear
I’m in the middle of the mid west and we seldom get over a 100f degrees but I swear it can get over 100% humidity. LOL [(-D]
Have fun.
Lee
[#offtopic]
Gidday Lee, the trouble with generalisations!!
What I should have added to Humid was Maritime Climate.
I see that your avatar has presumably yourself standing in front of a small Grumman of, and my excuse that the photo is to small to get more detail, 1970s manufacture. If I were to import that age of aircraft ,for a customer into New Zealand, one of the things I’d be advising the customer to do, even before the aircraft arrived in country, would be to get some form of “corrosion protection” applied ASAP.
“Rust never sleeps.” [;)]
Cheers,the Bear.
Bear
You are right on it. 1970 Grumman American trainer AA1A. Only had 600 hours on it when I bought it. I had to sell it some years back. It was a sad, sad day.
Having fun with RR hobby.
Lee
Gidday HappyWarrior, sorry went off topic answering Lee and missed your question. If the number of pickups you’re referring to are the locomotive ones, I would have thought that newer produced model locomotives would have had that sorted. If you don’t mind me asking what brand and loco(s) are you having problems with?
Cheers,the Bear.