I was running my layout last night when I suddenly had power fluctuations on it. Not just on 1 line but on all loops across 2 different transformers.

I noticed that the lights in the cabeese and passenger cars were flickering and the engines would lose their lights and sounds and then come back on.

Anyone have any ideas before I start to tear apart all the power feeds?

Kevin

Well, I'm thinking a solid short would trip the breaker(s) or fuses. Have you just added anything new that might be shorting. Maybe a loose connection in the outlet that feeds the transformers. A bad power strip? Start testing stuff if you have a meter, like the wall outlet, track for shorts, before tearing up needlessly. If you don't have a meter just run an extension to a different outlet. One by one replacing things till it's cured. The flickering lights and sound where the first test.

quote:

Anyone have any ideas before I start to tear apart all the power feeds?

Before tearing it all apart, try to isolate to one loop, one power supply, one train. I assume you have common ground across all power supplies. Look for something dragging, loose pick-up roller, etc

Sounds to me like there is a short in a train. Does it happen only when a specific train or cars is on the track?

I suggest starting by carefully examining all pick up rollers to make sure they, their bracket, or their wire aren't able to touch an axle or frame. If you have lighted cars with th lamp socket visibly on bottom, check where the wire from the roller goes into the socket.

How have you fastened wires to track & what kind of track? Check for a loose strand touching an outisde rail or metal tie.

It is rare that wiring should be torn out. How have youn wired the layout.

quote:

Sounds to me like there is a short in a train. Does it happen only when a specific train or cars is on the track?

I agree, could be a center rail roller in a pass car bouncing around,

Kevin --

One suspect: check yer UCS tracks. They are almost certainly your highest current acc and the coils do burn out/short over time. In my case even when lightly used.

I had one that varied intermitently such that i couldn't find it. Finally shorted. Thank goodness for the inductive ammeter: my son & i found it in five minutes.

-- gary ray

Been busy at work but here's an update and response to the suggestions.

1. I don't have any UCS tracks installed yet but based on that suggestion I checked to make sure no switch motors were hung up. All clear.

2. I checked the pickup rollers on all passenger cars cabeese and engines. All good

3. Nothing new has been added. Layout uses Lionel Tube Track

4. The problem is seen on different engines and cars. I thought it may be thr transofmrer so I put a meter on it and it seems fine. I even switched the transformers. Track is wired in a modified star pattern using 16 ga wire to the track feeds.

5. Plan is to try and isolate the loops this week and see what happens.

I'll report back

quote:

3. Nothing new has been added. Layout uses Lionel Tube Track

4. The problem is seen on different engines and cars. I thought it may be thr transofmrer so I put a meter on it and it seems fine. I even switched the transformers. Track is wired in a modified star pattern using 16 ga wire to the track feeds.

5. Plan is to try and isolate the loops this week and see what happens.

Good idea, perhaps one of the track center rain insulators is just about shot. What transformer are you using, I suppose a shot roller or weak circuit breaker could also cause the problem. Good luck.

Gregg

I am using 2 Z-4000 with the remote receivers. Transformers are brand new

Kevin:

Before you go too far, I'd suggest removing the remote receivers from your Z4K. See if the problem exists while operating the Z4K with the handles.

I've found my remote receivers to be a little goofy at times, but have tolerated their shortcomings because I like the transformers to be unseen and unheard.


Good luck.

I think we've had something similar posted a while back. Back off each handle on the Z-4000 a few volts. I "m probably all wet on this one. I'm not familiar with a z-4000.

What do your amp meters show during the power surges. If they go high, you probably have a short someplace. If they go low, you may have a bad connection. Are any other appliances in your house affected? If so, check the input voltage to your Z-4000s.

Earl

Earl

The amps and volt reading go down so I am thinking a connection or loose joint some where. Now all I have to do is find it. The Z-4000 are on their own 20 amp dedicated circuit just for them.

Kevin: Here's something to check. Do you have any passenger cars or cabeese that have the bulb socket mounted on the car floor, so that the wire from the roller goes into the bottom of a socket? If so, check the insulation on the wire where it goes into the socket. I've has several failures there.

If the amp reading goes down, it is probably not a short. A short would cause voltage to drop but amps to rise.

When you checked the rollers, did you move them around and see if the prong to which wires are soldered can brush the frame or axle?

Can you pinpoint the event to when a train is at a certain location?

Have you any locos that can run, without any cars or other locos, without having the problem? If so, gradually add cars until the problem occurs

I don't know how much stuff you have but take it all off the track & try one know good engine. You have to start someplace. Does one engine run OK??

quote:

Originally posted by fm592:
Earl

The amps and volt reading go down so I am thinking a connection or loose joint some where. Now all I have to do is find it. The Z-4000 are on their own 20 amp dedicated circuit just for them.

Take a long wire with alligator clips on both ends. Start jumpering across your connections and you will soon isolate the bad connection(s). You may have more then one bad connection.

Earl