We’re new to the railroading hobby. We chose Realtrax because it appeared simple to use compared to other manufacturers. We have blown three of four switches, an expensive experience, in the past year. Not sure why the first one went, but the last three went after a derailment.
Our switches are run on track powers. Our theory is that we were running an engine at about 8 volts and that prevented a nonderailer switch from working causing the derailment. The resulting sparking both at the derailed engine and at the other end of the track caused a power surge that fried the switches.
We think we need to power the switches separately so they are at 10 volts. That is doable, but do we need to also isolate the switches from the rest of the track, or just add the power to them?
Dog, unfortunately you are not alone. I run all my switches on track power but, and this is a big “but”, I have 16 volts full time with TMCC. When I am running in conventional mode, my switches do not work very well, if at all at the lower voltage.
My main concern is if you have adequate circuit breakers to shut down everything before your switches are fried. I derail at 16 volts and 300 amps and sparks go everywhere, but my system shuts down in the blink of an eye thanks to the wonderful advice of Roy McClellan, ace electrical engineer and all around good guy.
[quote user=“Buckeye Riveter”]
We have been discussing MTH Real Track Switches on this forum for over six years. Here is what I posted many years ago as the Chief and I were starting to find out about an MTH problem.
[quote user=“Buckeye Riveter”]
Before you fall in love with RealTrax Switches read this:
[quote user=“Buckeye Riveter”]
Chief…I hope you are paying attention because you need to see how I solved my problem with the MTH O-72 Realtrax Switches. Oh!! What’s that? You say the Chief is off goofing off fishing at the lake? Anyway, here goes.
A little history about the MTH Realtrax Switch Problem:
The Chief and I installed a bunch of MTH Realtrax Switches on our layout. I have 12 MT
I started with MTH Real Trax 12-13 years ago, the track w/lock on’s have worked well. I believe it’s because they are screwed down. The switches are problematic, most of them work, some don’t. The issue is that they have permanent scenery around them and I don’t want to rip them out so I live with them. To be fair I also have 3 Lionel working scenes that also have failed, ugg.
The bigger problem is I had no idea my layout would get this big and I just kept adding MTH Real Trax and switches. I am way past the point of no return with track and switches, I do not want to start over… way to expensive.
All you have to do to run on Auxilary power is to configure and connect the Aux power as it states in the manual. You do not have to further isolate the switch (i.e. I assume you are referring to the rail connections).
"Remove Jumper between Track AC Out terminal and Aux.PowerACIn terminals (Save the jumper for future use).
Connect Remote Switch as shown in Figure2.
Connect Auxiliary Power AC to Auxiliary Power ACIn screw terminal
Connect Auxiliary Power ACG (Common) to ACG (Common)screw terminal."
Buckeye is right about switches. I have to modify some of my 072’s as engines will arch when crossing. That trips my fast acting breakers if the engine is moving real slow. Buckeye has solved that problem.
Now I do find another problem with them. The guard rail will slip and close the gap between it and the corresponding rail on the attached track section. This make the switch think is has a car on the side of the switch and will not switch to the other direction. With continous tries to throw the switch, the machine shuts down. With a small flat blade, open the gap back up. Actually, I take a dremel tool and widen it a little more. MTH tech told me that.
Hope all of this helps.
BTW: I use a spare transformer and tun them on aux. power. Now I use 14V AC. I have several swtiches that are working in tantum [moving trains from one main line track to another mainline running parallel]. If the voltage is lower, they do not “snap” and sometimes doe not do a complete change.
The best thing to do is change to a track system that has a good longevity record. I don’t know which ones do but I changed from Realtrax to fastrack and have had one derailment. I changed before I got in too deep and hopefully you are not in that deep yet. I think many on CTT will agree. Just my 2 cents it relieved my headaches.