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Messages - paulbelow

#1
HO / Alco 2-6-0 wire loose
February 17, 2021, 08:00:29 PM
I have the HO Alco 2-6-0 that came with the Echo Valley set.  DCC and sound equipped.

One of the wires that goes from the tender to the loco came loose.  So now the lights and sound work but the loco does not move.

Is it a matter of pushing the wire back into the connector?  Pretty tiny wires.  

Cause:  The coupler (drawbar) between the tender and loco came loose dropped off the post on the tender and the tender was being pulled by the wires.  Not good.  I tightened the coupler.

I guess this loco only has pickups on the tender and not on the loco?  Strange.

Looks like the board replacement is $55 (Tender PCB & Light (HO Alco 2-6-0)).  Ouch.  

Any tips on how to best reattach the wire to the plug?


#2
General Discussion / Re: DCC shorts
December 12, 2020, 11:26:09 PM
Thanks!  Quite helpful.

Two follow-up questions:

Will any brand of HO scale insulated rail joiners work with EZ track, or do I need a certain kind?

The Bachmann auto reversing unit looks like it has some sort of plugs on the wires.  Do they plug into something, negating the need for soldering wires to the rails?
#3
General Discussion / Re: DCC shorts
December 12, 2020, 09:53:55 PM
Do I need something special if I add a reversing loop to my DCC layout?

In other words, if I am using ez track turnouts (either the DC ones switched manually or the DCC ones) and crossovers (DCC ones) would I need to buy a special box to allow a reversing loop?
#4
General Discussion / Re: DCC shorts
December 08, 2020, 07:38:05 PM
OK, after more experimentation I think I figured it out.

I had two left turnouts that were connected directly to each other.  When I disconnect them the problem goes away.  So far, anyway.

I was trying to be too clever, I guess.

#5
General Discussion / Re: DCC shorts
December 08, 2020, 07:04:46 PM
It wouldnt let me post a jpg, it says the folder is full.

Tried to post a 128k picture of an anyrail drawing of what I was trying to do (except with everything connected, unlike the drawing where there are a few tiny gaps, pretend those gaps are connected).

It shorted, so I have been gradually making it simpler and taking out some of the track.

I do not have a loco on the track currently and it is intermittently shorting.   That is why I was wondering about either too much track for the bachmann controller, or maybe mixing dcc and manual turnouts.

#6
General Discussion / DCC shorts
December 08, 2020, 06:49:34 PM
Using HO scale NS EZtrack, and Bachmann DCC controller.  Setting up a large layout.  Previously was running a smaller layout with the same controller and some of the same track.

Is there a limit to how much track it will support?  I am getting intermittent shorts.  Have checked all the track.

Is there a combination of switches and crossovers that will cause it to short?  I tried two of the number 6 crossovers (DCC) and it immediately shorted until I took one of them out.  Now I get intermittent shorts.

Is there a combination of loops that will cause a problem?  Some of my turnouts are DCC and some of them are the manual kind.  Maybe bad idea to mix them?