Track cleaner shorting 2

Airbuspilot

Airbuspilot

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I have fitted a new motor operating the cleaning wheels in the LGB track cleaner but still have problems. With the cleaner on the track I have normal forward / back control and the lights work normally. When I select the cleaning motor to ON I have what appears to be a short in the cleaner itself, not the track.

By short I mean - cleaner stationery, forward lights on, speed control zero. When speed control moved forward all lights fade to off (quickly) no motor reaction. Cleaner running forward and with cleaning option OFF, when ON selected cleaner stops dead and lights off.

With the cleaner on the bench and powered with crocodile clips from the main track (cleaner inverted) I have normal cleaning operation. I have started and stopped the cleaning wheels multiple times with perfect operation and no shorting.

Placing the cleaner on a rolling road with the cleaning part supported away from the track (no load) again perfect operation with multiple stop starts.

Immediately placing the track cleaner back on the main track normal operation for around 90 seconds then continuous shorts each time I try to run.

With the speed controller set to run the cleaner cycles between power on / short / power on / short. Normal static current drawn on the main track is around 3.15 amps, each time the cleaner shorts the current drops to about 2.8 amps.

My initial thought was a load problem however this is a new motor and the short occurs without a reaction from the motor so I would think unlikely?

I am now totally confused, any ideas would be gratefully received.

Robin
 
Would you be able to pull it apart and just check out the cleaner motor with a power supply and some test leads?
 
What controller are you feeding the track / cleaner with?
What is it rated at?
CARE! Can you get to the thermal fuse, and carefully (quickly, then let go) touch it? - It could be HOT, be careful..

I think you may have a poorly cleaning motor controller.

PhilP
 
It maybe the cleaning head pushing against something causing the problem, if it works fine upside down or with the head supported,
 
PhilP said:
What controller are you feeding the track / cleaner with?
What is it rated at?
CARE! Can you get to the thermal fuse, and carefully (quickly, then let go) touch it? - It could be HOT, be careful..

I think you may have a poorly cleaning motor controller.

PhilP
Click to expand...
The base station is a ZIMO MX 10 which is rated at around 12 A, the system is drawing 3.15 A with everything stopped. I don't understand why but when the cleaner shorts the amperage drops?

I will try running again and see if the thermal fuse is hot and again with the fuse bypassed (for a short time) to see if it is giving problems. I would think if the the switch was the problem the motor would simply stop but the lights would continue to operate normally, I don't see how this would cause a short.

I am having some trouble finding details of the decoder for this loco, is there a separate controller for the cleaning motor?

Robin
 
Paul M said:
It maybe the cleaning head pushing against something causing the problem, if it works fine upside down or with the head supported,
Click to expand...
I looked for anything which could cause friction but cannot see anything. Pushing he cleaner by hand along the track the cleaning wheels run freely.

Robin
 
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