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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Jay
Hi Brad!
I actually repurposed my Tidy Track Track Cleaner kit. Using the Gray pad set, I wetted the soft pad with the CRC. Then cleaned the track like normal It did take a bit to get my track clean. If the Tidy Track is not locally available, you might try Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Woodland-Scenics-TT4550-Tidy-Track-Rail-Tracker-Cleaning-Kit/392186580262?hash=item5b50244d26:g:UpMAAOSwy2pcBs32:sc:USPSPriority!51104!US!-1:rk:14:pf:0 Replacement pads: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Woodland-Scenics-Tidy-Track-Replacement-Cleaning-and-Finishing-Pads-TT4553/173796463720?epid=13012071509&hash=item2877139468:g:~RoAAOSwHYpZ~g2L:rk:27:pf:0 Trying so many different track cleaning methods, it was tough to clean, but worth it. It took me about a month & 5 applications. But since then, no track issues. Like I said 2 years ago I did this, zero track cleaning since then. Jay
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DCC voltage on track
Tom Anderson
I am trying to trouble shoot what appears to be some wiring problems with my new layout.
I am using a Digitrax DCS-210 with a PM42. I have 4 sections wired. Also, have 4 6 port Frog Juicers connected. Basically, the train runs just fine on the 2 main lines but stalls when trying to enter a siding off the main line. In trying to fix this problem, I tried to read the track voltage with my multimeter. I am getting no voltage on any of the tracks. I checked the multimeter on other isolated AC sources and it reads just fine. So what am I missing here? Stumped. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks! Tom Anderson
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Re: DCC voltage on track
vincent marino
My brother I was faced with the same situation a while back. Let tell you what it was on my layout. You can go through the same check list as I used and you might find your problem before the end of the list. 1) make sure all the track joiners are either tight or soldered or both. 2) make sure the power district with the problem has no shorts, no criscrossed track leads to the power bus, all connections are tight. 3) finally, this is what was wrong with mine. The turnout leading to the power district with the problem, make sure the locomotives are crossing over the turnout without shorting the frog or the frog alignment assist. Especially if your using a consist. Wasn't until I started syncing the locos using JMRI. It put the consist in a smooth pulling motion which eliminated the push/pull of the middle and rear locos over the turnout. Thus no more shorts from power district to power district. Hope that helped.
On Sat, Feb 16, 2019, 4:37 PM Tom Anderson <tanderson@... wrote: I am trying to trouble shoot what appears to be some wiring problems with my new layout.
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Re: DCC voltage on track
AD
Do you power your tracks on the other side of the switch or do you depend on power being sent to sidings thru the switch
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Tony
On Feb 16, 2019, at 4:06 PM, Tom Anderson <tanderson@...> wrote:
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Re: DCC voltage on track
vincent marino
That's a good question. I had the foresight to put all the turnouts (14 of them) on one power district. My shorts we're isolated to that district. Specifically I track powered each turnout, occasionally because of proximity 2 turnouts shared a powered rail joiner. All my frogs are powered and frankly that was the issue until I synced the engines.
On Sat, Feb 16, 2019, 6:23 PM AD <bklyns_baseball_club@... wrote:
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Re: DCC voltage on track
Tom Anderson
OK, I am beginning to isolate the problem. I disconnected the suspect power district from the PM42 and now I get a voltage reading on the remaining 3 (11.6 volts).
So, tomorrow I begin the search for the problem.
Just FYI, all switches are Peco Electrofrog and the switches do no power routing.
Thanks to all for the assist.
Tom
Tom Anderson
Business Information Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 160396 Boiling Springs, SC 29316
(864) 621-8607
From: w4dccqa@groups.io <w4dccqa@groups.io> On Behalf Of vincent marino
That's a good question. I had the foresight to put all the turnouts (14 of them) on one power district. My shorts we're isolated to that district. Specifically I track powered each turnout, occasionally because of proximity 2 turnouts shared a powered rail joiner. All my frogs are powered and frankly that was the issue until I synced the engines.
On Sat, Feb 16, 2019, 6:23 PM AD <bklyns_baseball_club@... wrote:
ExchangeDefender Message Security: Check Authenticity
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Re: DCC voltage on track
John Johnston <towboatjohnston@...>
Tom,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I will be fascinated to hear what you learn. I am in the process of wiring a similar scheme with Peco electrofrogs, 3 frog Juicers and an AR-1 that reverses a balloon track (N-scale code 55). Haven’t tested the branches yet. I see you are in Boiling Springs. I’m in Seneca. If you get stuck we have some smart people at the Central Railroad Museum who might be able to help. Hope you made it to our big Expo in Easley last weekend.
On Feb 16, 2019, at 6:53 PM, Tom Anderson <tanderson@...> wrote:
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Re: DCC voltage on track
Carl
Hello Tom: You are following the scheme I like to use: Divide and Conquer. Now
you know where the problem isn't. Look for shorts in the
problem district. Can you clear the fault by moving points? I have
a buzzer with a battery that I use a lot. Carl.
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Re: Power for Z-Scale Decoders
Don Vollrath
Hmmm. Makes me wonder what;s inside the UP6Z box. there are plenty of misc connectors but according to the sales info no real need for a power supply. Anyone ever open the box? Could be just a bunch of 4 amp rated silicon diodes connected in series parallel to give a relatively fix 4-5 volt drop with either polarity.
DonV
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Re: Power for Z-Scale Decoders
Jay
Hi Don,
Inside of the UP6Z it appears to have 3 resistor arrays. With a Capacitor & a Fusible link to track output. That & 6 Loconet ports. Jay
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Hi Jay,
just making sure because I live on a different continent: is this the CRC2-26 you're talking about? https://www.repco.com.au/en/brands/crc/crc-2-26-electrical-spray-400g/p/A3698939 Cheers Alex
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Jay
Hi Alex,
I am not sure. The CRC 2-26 here in the states is "Plastic Compatible" I am not sure yours is, I would check for that because it could damage the ties in the track. Amazon has it here: https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Plastic-Multi-Purpose-Precision-Lubricant/dp/B07GBD9GZ7. Jay
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Yeah, gotta be careful. The stuff I linked does not specifically state that it is plastic safe, so I'll probably refrain from using it until I know more.
Thanks Alex
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Greg Elmassian
It was recommended long ago by Lewis Polk of Aristo-Craft.
I tried using it as a track cleaner, and it did "break down" all the junk on the rails and wheels on my outdoor G scale loco. It also reduced friction so locos would not climb grades and made an even dispersal of black goo on all my rails and wheels. Took a while to clean it off. My recommendation is that it makes rails too slippery, and if you use it, clean it off completely after, and don't get it on your wheels. Greg
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Don Vollrath
I agree. CRC 2-26 is listed first as a lubricant tnen as a cleaner. Putting on the track will help remove unwanted residue, But... it will also act as a lubricant which will reduce the friction and therefore the pulling power of locos. Works great for other sliding type electrical connections.
DonV
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Re: Power for Z-Scale Decoders
Mark Gurries
With respect to the USA Z scale track voltage and Z scale decoder voltage ratings are not directly related. The voltage rating of the DCC electronics are typically the same as N and HO. 30V is common standard of electronic parts used. The voltage rating of the power devices used to drive the motor does not define the physical size of the parts. The NMRA does not define specific voltage for specific scales. They have one standard for all scales: 12V. Does not change with DCC. The purpose of having a specific track voltage as a standard is for reliability purposes for both the motor and lamps. DCC track voltage typically is a bit higher than the DC track voltage because of voltage losses inside the DCC decoder. The goal is to get 12V at the motor terminals, the same motor operating condition under DC without a decoder.
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Re: Power for Z-Scale Decoders
Carl
Hello Mark: I've converted Lionel three rail locomotives and the 12 volt limit is a problem. Lionel and MTH locomotives are wired for 18 volts and some barely move at 12 volt. I'm not quite willing to change to 12 volt motors. Carl. On 2/18/2019 1:18 PM, Mark Gurries
wrote:
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
It also makes a good glue. I have a friend with a 30-year old layout. 90% of his switches are Atlas Custom Line with the attached switch machine. I like to call him quick draw. It seems he always a can of CRC in his hand and uses it liberally. On one visit he asked me about a stuck switch.He admits to spraying CRC into the slot on top of the switch machine. "It worked three times. Now it will not move, even by hand." I gave him a tube of lock graphite. Glenn
-----Original Message-----
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Re: Power for Z-Scale Decoders
whmvd
Mark, Try G-Scale at 12V. That's virtually a non-starter! Wouter
On Mon, 18 Feb 2019 at 18:18, Mark Gurries <gurriesm@...> wrote:
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Re: Cleaners & Lubricants
Jay
Hi!
Spraying the CRC directly onto the track is not a recommended practice. It is best applied in a thin layer on the track. Then let it dry. There are 3% grades on my layout & I have no slippage issues when I run 25 unit trains. Jay
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