Kelly, I got your message here. I don't have time to reply tonight, but will get back with you on this tomorrow evening. If any of you other electrical wizards on the list want to give this a shot, go ahead.
Darrell --- In [email protected], "wb4hay" <nnn0...@...> wrote: > > Darrell, > > I told you to be patient--I forgot to mention that I am not too > sophisticated in the layout dept and am running a strictly > transformer and AC operation. As I think about it now, that explains > the "in phase" phrase. What the problem was that you could go, I > would guess, 180 out of phase and get 2X the voltage ???? Somehow > there is a way of preventing this isn't there?? > > Kelly > > > --- In [email protected], "Darrell Smith" <devansmith@> > wrote: > > > > Kelly, > > > > I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "in phase" but I think I > might help. > > > > When wiring multiple tracks as in your situation, you do want to be > > sure they are all wired with the correct "polarity." A simple way > to > > check this is to use an automotive tester. This is a tool that > looks > > a little like a screwdriver with a wire coming out the handle end. > > The tip is a point instead of a screwdriver blade, the wire usually > > has an alligator clip on the back end, and there is a bulb in the > > handle. You want the kind without a battery. That kind is a > > "continuity tester" and doesn't work for this application. You can > > find this tool at any automotive parts store, as well as the > > department stores having an automotive section. > > > > The above tester uses a 12 vold automotive bulb for testing 12v > > automotive circuits. As long as your power supply delivers less > than > > 15v it should work fine. If you are using a DCC system, which is > > usually 18v, you may need to change the bulb to a higher voltage. > > > > To use the tester, apply power to the track(s) you want to test. > Clip > > the alligator clip to one rail (for example the turntable lead > track) > > and use the probe on other rails to test correctness. > > > > 1. Test the opposite rail of the same track. The bulb should light > > up. If it doesn't, either there is no power to the track, or the > bulb > > is bad. > > > > 2. Test the SAME rail on the track section you want to check (for > > example on the turntable). The bulb should NOT light up if the > track > > is wired correctly. > > > > 3. Test the opposite rail on that same section of track. This time > > the bulb should light up. > > > > 4. If you are testing multiple track sections (for example your > > roundhouse tracks) go through the same test when each section of > track > > is powered. > > > > 5. When you have completed the above, attach the alligator clip to > the > > OPPOSITE rail and repeat the tests. This will assure that the other > > side of the track is wired correctly. > > > > NOTE: > > It should not be difficult to obtain correct wiring without > resorting > > to the above methodology. Simply make sure all the "North" rails > are > > wired to the same power feed, and make sure all the "South" rails > are > > wired to the other power feed. > > > > By "power feed" I do not mean directly to the throttle. The power > > feed I am referring to is the power to the tracks after your block > > control switches (if you are not using DCC), or your isolation > > switches (if you ARE using DCC). This of course assumes that you > have > > been able to wire up to that point by correctly isolating "North" > and > > "South" polarities.... > > > > Ask more questions if you don't understand this, or need further > > explanation. > > > > Darrell Smith > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "wb4hay" <nnn0tjf@> wrote: > > > > > > Guys, > > > > > > Can someone be real patient and explain in detail the > procedure for > > > checking to make sure for instance that two tracks are in phase. > I have > > > a turntable and roundhouse to wire in addition to an inner loop, > so I > > > sure wanted to get it right. > > > > > > 'Preciate it, > > > > > > Kelly > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
