I have roughly a 4’x6’ N-scale layout. I have an outside track that follows the outer perimeter and over and unders itself. I have an inside track that follws it closey but has 4 switches that creates a figure 8 over and under. All my engines work fine on the outside track with no switches, but the inside track they wont or will just barely move a few inches before quitting and popping the transformer. I have one transformer for the outside track, that works fine, for the inside track I have one transformer but also could add two more for a total of three to power the track. I have no plastic insulators on the inside track. Can I daisy chain the transformers together? Do I need to create blocks? And if so how? Do I need plastic insulators? Kinda frustrating, I dont want to have to tear up all the inside track. Thanks for any suggestions, Im kinda dumb when it comes to wiring and electricity. Mitch
Your inside track has 4 switches that go into an over and under crossover. You have created two reversing loops by having two sets of opposing switches. If you look at a track wiring diagram, two opposing switches require gaps on both of the rails coming out of the frog. If you do not want to tear up the inside tracks to install plastic joiners, cut the gaps in the rail and fill them with plastic CA’ed or epoxied in place. Once the glue has dried, file the plastic to match the profile of the rails.
Do not daisy chain your transformers in a single block. They will either short each other out or double the voltage to the track (24 instead of 12 volts) and burn out your all of your motors and lights, depending on the polarity of thier connections.
The first thing I would do is disconnect both transformers. The connect the transformer from the outer track, which you know is good, to the inner track. and see if things run properly.
To me, it sounds like you’ve got a bad transformer, but there could be a problem with the track, too. This simple test will tell you which it is.
Generally, you should not connect multiple transformers together. That’s asking for trouble. Unless your good transformer is seriously underpowered, it will probably to for both tracks. I assume you’re running in DC. I’d suggest finding something simple like an Atlas Twin which will allow you to easily wire up both tracks to the same transformer and control the direction (but not the speed, unfortunately) independently.
I have a similar layout. Basiclly an outer and inter oval. The two loops are connected with a double slip switch. The inner loop also does a figure eight. That loop is continuous and loops over itself at one end and rises from each end to make the figure eight crossing. Getting the grades figured was the hardest part. It is a door size layout. Just follow a rail (ex. the right rail is always on the right in the direction of travel) and make sure it is continuous and that should correct the current problem.