I'm sorry to be harping on the turntable. But I'm still stuck. If you have and operate the Atlas manual (could also be powered) turntable --there is a gap, of course, between the approach track and the turntable track. My engines will not cross that gap. Now, the instruction sheet refers to a "sliding connector," which would make sense; however, I don't see it. What and where is this "Sliding connector" which, if it exists, I guess would solve my problem. According to the instruction sheet, again, I have the thing wired correctly and the polarity reverses automatically, so I'm assuming polarity isn't the problem. There simply isn't any power between the approach track and the turntable. What am I missing here? eagle37
Turntable Power There is power on the bridge. Engines function on the bridge (movement, sound). The power is provided by wiring to the approach track. Direction is o.k., i.e., the engine on the bridge moves in the same direction it moves on the approach track. It's simply that there is no power in the gap and the engine stops, just as it would if there was a gap anywhere in the layout. As I say, reference is made on the instruction sheet to a "sliding connector," but I don't see anything like that. eagle37
This sounds very weird to me. I have owned two Walters 90'ers, one that I had to construct and motorize, and the other is the one I am using now, their 90' built-up with indexing. I have never heard of sliding connectors that are meant to provide power to any of the tracks on either side of the lead. Once the bridge is aligned to either a bay track or to one of the leads, it is simply a drive-on. My gaps have all been between 1/16" and 3/32". When crossing the gap, at least one powered axle should be rearward and still getting power from the approach lead. Once the first such axle is on the powered bridge rails, the rear could be lifted with a crane and the model would still get power. What I am saying is I don't understand why this small gap should be anything more than a huge scale bump for the wheels.
I got one of these but I'm a little far away from installing it at this time. I'm wondering if you have to get a big rotary switch to power up the appropriate track you are going to park a loco onto or retrieve one from? Or if its somehow done internally? Obviuosly there is a gap so you have to connect wires or something to power up the other track.
Well, I guess I'm reduced to moving the engine on and off the turntable by hand, though if anyone else has any thoughts I'd certainly appreciate them. Again, the bridge track is powered. Direction is same as approach track. No polarity problem. I'm running a 0-6-0, DCC (my only other engine at this stage is too long for the turntable). As soon as the front wheel touches that gap, the engine shuts down. I can't find any customer service or other contact info for Atlas. eagle37
I am assuming DCC. Does the approach track pass the quarter test? Place a quarter on the rails and the DCC system shuts down. If it does NOT pass the quarter test, you have problems getting DCC bus to the approach track and you are probably shorting out when you cross the gap, but the wiring is inadequate to the approach track to power down i.e. cold solder joint, bad rail joiner etc. This would suggest you have a polarity problem as well. If the quarter test passes, then I'd want to know if the bridge track also passes the quarter test. If it does not, then correct the wiring, i.e. cold solder joint, bad rail joiner etc. Hope this helps Joe
If your engine shuts down upon contact with the gap, but your short management device on your power distribution system does not function, you have two possible problems. Either your short protection is not functioning or your DCC signal strength is insufficient to allow it to recognize the fault and cut power to the entire layout. As Joe says, do the quarter test on the approach to the turntable and on the bridge rails: place a quarter across both rails. Your system should sound an alarm and cut track power immediately. Then, place the quarter so that it bridges matched rails (lining up tip to tip) across the gaps. If nothing happens when you bridge the bridge rails and the approach with something conductive, then your polarity is fine. If your power system issues a short fault detection and shuts down, you'll know your rails are not properly matched for polarity. That takes care of possible shorts and power problems getting the right amount of signal to the tracks and feedback to the short detection device. The second probability is that when the front wheel drops slightly into the gap, you are disrupting contact between wipers and the axle or the backs of the drivers...or something of that nature. Otherwise, the engine is still powered, but can't overcome the depth/width of the gap and simply stalls. Again, your gap between lead and the bridge rails should be in the order of 1/16". Much more than that and you will find your tiny 0-6-0 drivers getting wedged.
Thinking of the above, ie. physical rather than electrical, are you sure it isn't a low coupler pin catching something further along just when the front wheel hits that gap?
Thanks, gents. I'll try all these things and, if nothing works, this gigantic hand will occasionally reach into my layout and slowly move the engine on and off the turntable. The Greeks called this *deus ex machina." eagle37
Got it! Many thanks to you all for your patience! Both the approach track and the bridge track were, in fact, powered-- which threw me. However, the quarter "trick" revealed that the polarity was reversed. All I needed to do was reverse the wires to the turntable and everything is working as it should. Bless this forum and all who ride 'er. eagle37
Thanks for the info about the "quarter test." It works--and it worked! After all the frustration archived above, it turns out that while I had both the approach track and the turntable track powered, the polarity was reversed. All I had to do was switch the wires and everything is working perfectly. Thanks to everyone! eagle37
