I have a set of Atlas remote switches on my newest layout, and I was putting a can engine into my chessie GP40, when I began to smell burning plastic. As I looked down, smoke was coming out of my left switch and the plastic was quickly melting away. I killed the Tech 2 and had a look. My cat was below me and was bumping the wires, and a short might of happened. But I also had a plastic crate on top of the table, and was over top of the switch button, and I think it might have been pressing down on it and caused the switch to burn up. Anyone have similar problems?? Thanks, beegle55.
Similar but not the same, had a toggle switch go bad and watched an Atlas switch machine go up in smoke. I know the feeling. I keep telling myself to find a way to prevent the melt down, I don’t think a fuse would help, The initial current draw on a switch machine would probably blow the fuse anyway. Perhaps a slo-blow fuse but the melt down might happen anyway.
Yea I guess my toggle switch could have went bad, might I’m doubting that because its brand new. I think the box held down the toggle switch and burnt up the switch. Thanks, beegle55.
If you caught it in time, it might still work. If not - time to replace the switch motor. It probably was the crate sitting on the button holding it down. Twin coil switch motors like Atlas can not take the power being applied continuously. The easiest way to prevent this is to get a capacitor discharge power supply They are easy to build, but if you ocmpletely lack any electronics skill, you can buy a commercial unit like the Circuitron Snapper. It instals between your power pack and the switch buttons. When you press a button with the CD supply, there is one strong power jolt to operate the swith machine, but should you hold the button down, only a very low current continues to flow, not enough to damage the switch motor, at least not in a reasonable amount of time (leave it pressed for days, it still might eventually melt). You didn’t say if you are HO or N scale - when I was in N scale and used the Atlas turnouts, I had no end to them melting, the older lever-type controllers would ALWAYS stick. I built a CD power suppyl and never looked back, never melted another one.
–Randy
Install a capicator discharge power supply for the switch machine. This will the solve the shorted control problem. Buy one or build one.
I don’t know if I’ve caught it in time or not. The plastic over the coils has mostly melted and the bottom is disfigured. I’m going to hook it up today and see if it still works. I’m modeling HO. Thanks, beegle55.
I might try the capacitor and see what happens, but for now I’m just going to be more careful. Thanks, beegle55.
Did the same thing about 6 years ago. Melted the plastic right off the switch motor. I does still work though so it is possible for those things to survive slips like this.
Ok, sounds good. I think mine will still work if I’m careful. Thanks, beegle55.