I currently have a 4x8 layout that consists of 2 loops and 4 turn outs. The turn outs are wired into a a separate DC power pack. I have each loop wired twice to the track and ran into my Digitrax DCS50. My problem is I don't think my layout is getting enough juice. If I plug my DC controller into my layout the trains fly and run without much of any hickups at all. When wired to the DCC controller there's a good chance the locomotives will stop once or twice around the layout. I'm at my wits end, the track is clean, the loco's are clean but it seems to stop anyway. I don't have any of the joints soldered which might be my next step. I'm looking for any suggestions. Thanks.
... But not NO hiccups. On DC when power is lost momentarily there is just a hiccup. With DCC the decoder, which is a little computer, may reset and has to restart from scratch (some makes/models will be better/worse for this) which means the engine will probably stop while this happens. If it doesn't happen at your turnouts I'd say your next step is to either solder the joints or add feeders, at least where the glitches are happening. If it is (only) at the turnouts then a bit more diagnosis will be in order.
DC vs DCC Sounds like a pickup issue. Many time interruptions in DC are not noticed especially if the loco has good running characteristics and has a flywheel. The motor is directly controlled by a micro processor in the decoder. Think computer. If the micro sees a interruption, this will directly affect the motor and lights. Do the interruptions happen at the same spot? Rich
It seems like they happen around the same spot and it seems it has to do with the turnouts. I got fed up last night so I replaced all my turnouts with straight track and it seemed to cure the problem. If course what fun's a layout without some turnouts. My layout's simple, just 2 oval loops, on the turning sections the loco's run without any problem but when it gets around the one section of turnouts it starts bucking or just stops. Today I soldered the track joiner to all the turnout pieces and connected them. It didn't really seem to make that much of a difference.
Turn out points and the track they touch must be clean also. Not just the turnout track. I have had derailing on switches until corrections were made, but never just stopping unless dirty track or point rails not picking up power because either loose or dirty. I use a thin nail file between the rail and point rail to remove any oxides or dirt. Of course these things may not be your problem though I am at a loss to know of any others.
Thanks Ken. I've spent alot of time cleaning the entire layout, every part of the track that the loco wheel touches I have cleaned but anytime I run DCC the loco seems to slow downs and bucking on parts of the track and mostly over the turnouts. Everything is great when I run DC though so not sure what to do next.
Interruptions Do not depend on rail joiners when using DCC. Rail joiners are for connecting track sections only. They are not dependable for DCC power. Make sure all parts of the turnout have good electrical connections. For your layout, #16 wire for the main buss with #22 feeders to each section of track is ok. That is what I use as I only run one or two DCC sound locos at a time. My layout is somewhat larger. I assume you are using three foot sections of track. I might be wrong on that guess. Soldered rail joints can cause track buckling with extremes of humidity and temperature. Are you experiencing shorts or just loss of power? Rich
Rich, i'm experiencing loss of power, not shorts. I'm using mostly flex track but some sectional pieces as well. I'm running 2 DCC locomotives. I'm not 100% what gauge wire i'm using either but will get some #16 and #22 and re-wire the layout. Hopefully that will fix it.
Certainly sounds like the turnouts are the problem. We'll need more info to try and help you diagnose it as it could be poor continuity or momentary shorts that are the issue (or if you're real lucky ... both ). What make/model are they? And how are they installed and wired (if at all)?
Problems like these are what many of use have had and you need to just keep working at finding the solution. Yes, it is madding, but it is a learning curve. The more track and switches the harder it is. If you can isolate parts of the layout and work on them one at a time this may help. I have had to do it that way more then once in the first couple of years. The up side is my engines, cars and track work at least 98% flawlessly. There will always be something going wrong every so often though.
Try replacing all of the rail joiners on the turnouts. They may be old and just a tad loose......Mike
Mike they are Atlas turnouts and not sure the model, they're old, probably 15yrs or so. I rescued this layout from my parents house, it used to be 8x12 layout but due to space issues its now a 4x8. Ken, i'm pretty sure I know the problem area. I have 5 turnouts on one of the stright parts of the oval and thats where my issue is. I have 2 on the other straight part and don't have any problems. The thing is, since I've been having this problem i've taken apart that sections, cleaned EVERYTHING, replaced rail joiners, made sure the track is level as possible and straight as possible. Its not as straight as i'd like, I can see the loco moving around some but its not too bad.
Well I decided to give something a try. Since the locomotives weren't going though the turnouts as smooth as I thought they should I decided to put WD40 on the turnouts. To my surprise it improved connectivity and now I don't have any "bucking" or loss of power. I can run the locomotives on my DC50 at 1.5 and it will go all around my layout without any hiccups or bucking.
I was just going to suggest that. The issues you faced sound exactly like what I had experienced - unexplained bucking at certain sections and/or turnouts that I had cleaned to the point of exasperation with no or little satisfaction. My solution was Labelle 105, which has certain characteristics of WD40, in that it is a "wet" treatment.
Yeah the trains run great now, I love that I can run them as slow as I want or as fast as I want and not have to worry about them stopping or bucking. Since I don't have any elevation changes I don't have to worry about then not going up any inclines. I'm debating about putting a small one in though, I think it would still run fine, the loco's seem to have alot of grip still.
