Voltage drop in reversing loop.

[scook]

Hi

I seem to get a large voltage drop between the two sections of my LGB 10151 Reverse Loop Track Set, down to 13v when a loco is in the section, has anybody had this problem or any ideas on how it can be overcome?

Thanks
Sam

 

[Gizzy]

Might be worth checking the diodes in the 1015T section of track Sam?

When I had these units in my analogue days, I found that the solder joints on the pcb had failed due to water ingress. I managed to repair by resoldering the connections....

 

[scook]

Thanks for the tip, Just spent a few hours outside trying to fix the problem, I did re-solder the diodes, sadly this didn't work, I then added an extra power supply to the track just after the second section of track and it works a treat. Problem solved.

 

[Rob]

Your not alone, I have a large voltage drop on mine too, I've always just put it down as a quirk of the equipment!

It's not too much of an inconvenience in my garden as my reverse loop is R1 around a pond!

 

[Gizzy]

Re:Voltage drop in reversing loop.

Thanks for the tip, Just spent a few hours outside trying to fix the problem, I did re-solder the diodes, sadly this didn't work, I then added an extra power supply to the track just after the second section of track and it works a treat. Problem solved.

I wonder if one of those diodes has gone faulty?

Can you do a diagram as to where you've added this extra power feed please....

 

[Gavin Sowry]

I thought it was one of the fundamentals of inserting diodes into a circuit, that you lose about 2V at the output end.

 

[PhilP]

I thought it was one of the fundamentals of inserting diodes into a circuit, that you lose about 2V at the output end.

You should only lose 0.6 - 0.7 V per diode..
Of course, if this is at the 'end of the line', so a long way from your PSU, then there could be a considerable voltage drop by the time you get to that point anyway.

 

[mbiff]

lol - to be honest i like um slowing down goin round a reverse loop - the real trains would have to slow down too

 

[Gavin Sowry]

You should only lose 0.6 - 0.7 V per diode..
Of course, if this is at the 'end of the line', so a long way from your PSU, then there could be a considerable voltage drop by the time you get to that point anyway.

Yes, but there are 4 diodes in some of these circuits, two of which have some power loss effect at any one time..... about 2V total.