I am a rank "newbie" and am using Bachmann EZ track, turnouts, etc. I find with a simple oval, using two turnouts to shorten to an "inner oval", when I swith from staright to turn it stops the engine. I assume a have a short circuit. I have a third turnout used to go to a siding, and it works OK. Can anyone tell me the problem with the right and left turnouts shortenning the oval?

Hi jerry, glad you stopped by. And Welcome!

Can you draw a little diagram and post what you have so we have more info?

Without a diagram, it's sort of hard to know exactly how the power is running around your rails...but allow me to throw out a few ideas...and bear in mind I'm no electrical genius, but I've used those same turnouts too and know they can be problematic.

Does the engine stop dead when the front set of wheels touch the "curved portion" of the turnout with the rear wheels still on the "straight" portion of the turnout?

Where does the electricity from the power pack hook into the layout? If it attaches to the main loop, is the attachment point placed so the inner loop would still receive power when both turnouts are thrown?

Is it possible that one of the wire connectors are installed backwards in the switch machine? If I remember right, the turnout wiring is encased in a black plastic covering and that piece is inserted into the switch machine...is it possible one of those are installed opposite of the other? Do you have the switch machines attached to one another?

Take a really close look at the track connectors too. It is very easy for one rail to not properly attach to the track connector and be "above" it and not touching well enough to conduct power to that rail. The track should attach firmly, snapping into place, and the rails should be smooth and unbroken to the touch if everything is snapped together correctly.

It could certainly be possible that you have one bad switch box or turnout. So try swapping the turnouts around, and try swapping the switch boxes around as well. By process of elimination, you might discover if you have a bad turnout or switch box or broken wire somewhere. Also, when your engine stops dead, try "throwing" both switches - one at a time - and see if the power is reestablished to the inner circle. Sometimes those Bachmann Turnouts do some funny things and simply throwing both switches a few times correctly "seats" the parts and allows for proper electrical flow.

Running Bear uses EZ track, hopefully he will see this and chime in.

Thanks guys for the rapid response! I will try to post the "layout as it is now. I have tried to unpower the turnouts and work them manually, same effect. As soon as I switch A or B to "turnout", the engine stops dead anywhere on the track. Swith C is no problem.

Might be power routing turnouts. Try moving the power leads to the right, between the A and C turnouts.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I do not understand when no powere is applied to the turnouts, they stop the engine? Anyway, I will give this a try. Thanks again.
Jerry

Yes, the Bachmann turnouts are power routing. This means they act as an electricl switch as well, and only the track that is lined up gets power. With the power feed as shown, and the turnouts lines to run around the outside, power gets everywhere, Throw the turnouts to take the inner track, and now the only place with power is the left side. Power can't get past the A and B turnouts because those two turnouts are now connecting the right side of the layout with the inner loop.

--Randy

OK, what we need to know is if you have your track set up like this:

[attachment=6462]

... or is it like this:[attachment=6461]

If it's the second case, you've set yourself up with a reverse loop and a dead short. As soon as the loco moves into the middle track, it's getting its polarity crossed. If that's the case, you'll need some insulated joiners and a couple of DPDT toggle switches.

If it's the first case, it may be that the turnouts are not power-routing, and you need to put some power feeders on the inner track.

The track is as loop1.jpg.

Add two more feeder lines and the main loop will all be powered all the time. put the extra wires where I have marked to add power and make sure you put the inside wire inside, and outside out or you will have a short.
Charlie

Thanks Charlie B! I will do it when my extra track gets here. I am starting to understand, I didn't know the turnouts changed the feed. I have two track terminal pieces now, but more coming soon along with more track. I want to run a double loop with a turnout that joins them on one side. Then I will have a siding coming off on the other side with two more turnouts to additional sidings. I have a steam engine, 4-8-2 coming in a couple of days and a few more freight cars and a couple of cabooses. That will give me one diesel engine, one steam, 11 freight cars and 3 passenger cars. I want to run two trains at once, each on it's own circuit in opposite directions. I have a Pkg. of insulator track connecters and I will have to power each section seperate, I knew that much. I also have a programable multiple power supply on the way.

Our layout so far, is a 4 x 4 sheet of 1/2" ply. When we get that made into a real layout I plan to add another section/line going about 4' into a circle back up a hill, but, that's a way off now.

I am glad I found this forum! I will be asking a lot of questions as we learn our way to railroading. Thanks everyone for responding to my questions. It is greatly appreciated!

Jerry

I'm definitely no electrical genius, but it seems to me that along with adding power at the locations that Charlie B. has suggested, the power connections need to be removed from where they were initailly indicated. From those positions, the power "backs" into the turnouts ... and that's where I think the shorting out problem stems from.

P5se Camelback Wrote:I'm definitely no electrical genius, but it seems to me that along with adding power at the locations that Charlie B. has suggested, the power connections need to be removed from where they were initailly indicated. From those positions, the power "backs" into the turnouts ... and that's where I think the shorting out problem stems from.

Bil he is not shorting, the turn outs are power routing, and when he throws the turnout to diverging, the power is cut to the one side of the loop and there is nothing to feed the siding. If he removes the original source it will make that section dead when he throws the switch. That's OK if that is what he wants, but I think right now he just wants continuous running regardless of the turnout position..
Charlie