What is the cause of a brief interruption of power to the loco on a DCC where the lights also go out and it is NOT due to a dirty track. The problem is most noticeable when the loco is running at start-up or slow speed. It would seem to me that the only other problem besides a dirty track would be a poor connection between track sections. My layout is small - 10’ x 5’ and running HO gauge. Does the fact that the light goes out in addition to the quick loss of momentum indicate anything special?
There are three possibilities – dirty wheels on the locomotive causing it to lose solid contact with the rail; a loose wire connection somewhere within the locomotive causing a momentary loss of power; or a short circuit causing your DCC system to shut down.
More information is needed, such as the brand name and type of locomotive involved, whether it’s a factory installed decoder, if it a sound decoder, what brand of decoder is involved, and whether other locomotives exhibit the same problem.
I notice this sometimes on a friend’s layout and sometimes I wonder if an amperage spike due to a slight hitch or hesitation in the drive train, or even encountering slightly narrow gauge track or guard rails (the sort of thing that would not even be noticed on DC) might be the cause.
The guys who frequent the electronics/DCC part of this Forum might have their own ideas. I tend to go there only when I need help.
Agreed with Cacole, more information is needed. I would add, is more than one loco involved at the same time, i.e. if more than one is running do all “stall” at once? Is it always in the same area, or sporadic and anywhere and everywhere? More often on turnouts, curves, straights? What kind of track do you run on, whether sectional, flex, what brand?
My first guess, with just the info provided, would be dirty wheels, but it could also be a short, loose wire on loco, loose track connection, inadequate feeders to track, loose rail joiner, or even other reasons…
As stated we need more info. You already ruled out dirty track.
Does just this one engine exhibit the power loss? Or do all engines do this?
One thing comes to mind is that the track in that area isn’t flat. Not knowing which engine we are talking about but if the track isn’t flat the power pick up wheels could be lifting off the track resulting in power loss.