Could one ask for advise. My small garden layout has suddenly started to experiance intermittent electrical problems with track to locomotice meaning that the train moves along and then stopps when a price of track is not recieving the electrical power, a push from me and it gets going again only to find the same problem elese where.
I have brass track outdoors and I have cleaned / polished and got all the crap of but still the problem happens.
I have noticed in other outdoor layouts that people have solvdered wires on the outside of the track, is this what I have to do to solve my problem?
Hi Simon, you said the track is clean and indicated the loco wheels are clean. That said chances are there could be an intermitent open in the track work. This problem could be anywhere from the power supply to the track and any track joint between there and where the loco stops. If you don’t have a volt/ohm meter you can use a car with lighting (caboose/passenger) and move it around the track to see when the lights fail check that connection (both rails). If you don’t have any test equipment leave power to the failed loco and use a screwdriver to short across each joint (including each rail) between loco and track connection, as above if the loco starts moving check that connection. There are a number of ways to repair an electrical joint. If you are using Aristo or USA track it may be as simple as a lose screw (Not you). Sometimes dirt gets into rail joiners causing an open; clean it up and I put a dab of Ox-Gard on the joiner before reassembling. In fact many times a dab Ox-Gard between the rails and joiner will fix the problem. You can also change the joiner to a Split Rail or Hilman track connector, or you can run a junper around the joiner.
I hope this helps, I’ve work in the electronic industry for over forty years and intermitent troubles are the hardest to find. Rob
Examine the possibility of using battery power and radio control with a system such as the AirWire 900 from CVP Products or the Remote Control Systems from Australia.
I realized early on that battery power was the only logical choice due to the many reverse loops and crossovers on my layout that would require extremely complicated wiring, so I don’t even have any wire connected anywhere to my track. And it’s not because I don’t have the electrical wiring experience, either. I also never have to worry about cleaning track except to remove large objects that could potentially cause a derailment.