My grandson is setting up his easy track as a straight layout on a ledge in the basement. He wants operate train down the track and then back it up to starting point. Engine stops about 2/3 down the track, any help would be appreciated.
Does it stop in the same place everytime?
If so check to make sure all the rail joiners are in place and snug.
Make sure the track is clean.
If by chance he is using track from the auto reversing trolley set make sure you have the track sections in the right place.
Also
Clean the wheels on the loco.
If the train stops then wont run for about 5 minutes check for shorts in the track and or the loco could be drawing to many amps.
Excessive amp draw can be from a number of things like hair/carpet fibers around the axles,
Binding caused by the wheels being sqeezed tight against the frame, damage from trying to push the train like a hotwheel around the track/floor.
Nm-Jeff
How long of a run of track are we looking at?
What engine and how many cars is he trying to pull?
What power pack?
His setup is anout 30feet on Bachmann easy track-grey with Backmann cnc contoller. When I see him this week, we'll check all the connections & clean everything. Just wanted to be sure he didn't need some type of end track to make this work. Thanks for all your advice.
30 feet is too long to rely on track alone to supply enough voltage to operate an engine. You need a bus supply with feeder wires to the track. I would suggest at a minimum of every 3 feet if you are positive that your rail joiners are making good contact, if not then you will need more feeders. This is what I would do, there may be other opinions.
Extra feeders can help for sure,one set on each end is what i would do. but my girls set up 40+ feet from their room to the living room all the time with the old stock controller and run it back a forth.
A loop can be less trouble because if a rail joiner fails power still has a chance to make it around the loop from the other direction feeders at both ends would help in the same way.
Quote from: NarrowMinded on November 05, 2014, 12:54:30 AM
Extra feeders can help for sure,one set on each end is what i would do. but my girls set up 40+ feet from their room to the living room all the time with the old stock controller and run it back a forth.
NM-
True, but remember that that trains operated with a DC controller can tolerate tiny continuity problems which can cause a
DCC system to hesitate or reboot each time there is an even momentary interruption of power.
-- D