Problems with Atlas Connector Switch

[RobertInOntario]

As some of you know, I've been trying to create a new isolated section of track on one loop of my 4x6' layout (see <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6194&start=30">viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6194&start=30</a><!-- l -->).

This project has been coming along well (but slowly) and tonight I was soldering a lead of wire to this loop and attached its wires to my Atlas Connector Switch. I salvaged this switch from an older layout. Well, when the wires from the transformer are connected to the switch and when the the wires from the track are also connected, I can't get any power to go to the loco that is sitting on the track.

Basically, when I turn up the power on my Railpower 1370 transformer, the red pilot light on my transformer starts to go dim -- obviously an overload or short is happening. I've experimented by swopping the wires around but I get the same result. Is it possible that this Atlas switch is damaged?

I have used these Atlas Switches several times before -- there's another one on this layout plus other ones on previous layouts.

Please note that I have not actually cut or separated the track yet (using my new Xurion Track Cutters), so that shouldn't be part of the problem. The transformer works well so that's not the culprit either.

Does anyone know why I can't get power to the rails & why this is happening?

Thanks,

[Prairie Trains]

Try cutting the gaps and see if that helps, my guess is the polarity is reversed to one of the sections. The indicator light going dim indicates a short. To check the selector remove all wires going to the track from it, then turn up the power supply to see if the light dims. If it does the switch is shorted, if not try throwing all the switches and if the light does not dim the selector should be good.

[RobertInOntario]

Try cutting the gaps and see if that helps, my guess is the polarity is reversed to one of the sections. The indicator light going dim indicates a short. To check the selector remove all wires going to the track from it, then turn up the power supply to see if the light dims. If it does the switch is shorted, if not try throwing all the switches and if the light does not dim the selector should be good.

I just remembered/realized that the pilot light only goes dim when I attach the track wires to the Atlas Connector Switch. It's fine when not connected to the track. I'll continue to swop around the wires to see if the polarity problem can be solved that way, although I think I've already tried this.

[RobertInOntario]

After trial & error, I managed to get this fixed. In the end, I'm still not sure what the actual problem was -- maybe some dirt or the way I was attaching the wires? I'm still tinkering with the layout & ironing out a few problems.