Track Power Issue

[ge_rik]

My sure-fire solution - battery power!

Sorry, cracked record.........

Rik

 

[FurkaSOCal]

Thank you all! Excellent advice. I've gone ahead with using rail clamps and will be replacing all my joints eventually. I have noticed much better conduction even with my smaller loco in the areas that are exclusively connected with rail clamps.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

So where in San Diego?

You should join us today at the SDGRS club meeting in Hidden Meadows... check the calendar section on www.sdgrs.com

Greg

 

[Paul M]

So where in San Diego?

You should join us today at the SDGRS club meeting in Hidden Meadows... check the calendar section on www.sdgrs.com

Greg

That must be hard to find

 

[Gavin Sowry]

I'll second that... and you are wasting your time if the wind is blowing.

A small tip when soldering.... pick the iron up by its handle (that's the cold end).

Next observation. Why do Antipodeans prefer to wear flip flops ? Answer. So you can smell the burning rubber from the soldering iron you have stood on before it burns your foot.

 

[stockers]

Going right back to the first post. Running at night usually means there is dew on the rails. I have noticed that my few locos without skates do begin to stutter as the evening draws in. This will also of course affect the lighted coaches. I tend to choose locos with skates when I know I will be running late. Other than that, it is as said above clean track and clamps.

 

[chris m01]

I use Garryflex blocks to clean my track.

I run dc and find any poor connections by using a sound equipped loco. The sound chips seem to be quite sensitive to a small drop in voltage and therefore just listening to a loco going round will immediately warn of any poor connections before you can see any drop in speed. I just keep a stock of rail clamps in the shed. If I hear a poor connection I swap the joiner for a clamp. I don’t install clamps where the original rail joiners are functioning perfectly. This saves time and money and the vast majority of joiners are fine anyway.

 

[stockers]

A agree with your clamp system Chris - That#s what I do here.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Note: only older sound systems and non-dcc based systems seem to be sensitive to voltage fluctuations ... my modern stuff has no sensitivity to brief interruptions.

Greg