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Post by g3750 on Dec 30, 2020 14:35:55 GMT
These types of problems are all part of the joy of building a layout. It sounds like you have solved them. I made my share of mistakes when building my layout. You are doing it the right way, testing everything as you do it and finding problems before you have moved on to another section of the layout. It's frustrating now but in the end you will have a good running layout.
At times, that is very true.
George
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Post by g3750 on Jan 3, 2021 21:06:29 GMT
Updated 1/3/2021: I have a number of irons in the fire at the moment, but the big ones are: - The Steubenville PRR Station - this hasn't been on the radar, but I've been working on the different types of windows for this very large and ornate train station. Sidehack (Ray Mansfield) has been of invaluable help in refining my crude drawings and 3D printing the windows, for which I am very grateful! I have also managed to draw an overhead plan to O scale and then reduce it to 90% size (all the space I have). I've got to move those subway stairs to the right.
- I am investigating use of the PSX-AC boards for circuit protection.
- I've got a malfunctioning Legacy PowerMaster that needs assessed and, if possible, repaired.
- I am also looking into ways to protect my 42 Z-Stuff DZ-2500 switch machines and 3 DZ-2001 Data Wire Drivers and simplify their debugging when problems occur. So far, the Lionel break-out boards do not make economic sense. Determining a realistic approach will affect how I wire the switches and their switch buses; right now that is being held up by this issue.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by g3750 on Jan 13, 2021 2:07:03 GMT
Updated 1/12/2021: Have spent the last few days working on a very vexing electrical issue. It presented as a Legacy Powermaster delivering less than 18 VAC to the track. This was for Power District #7. In fact, the real issue was phasing among the 3 transformers powering districts 4, 7, and 8, respectively. With help from my friends Bob Bartizek and Price Bradshaw, I was able to correct the problem. Bob really identified the issue from the symptoms I described and Price helped me methodically inspect my track feeder wiring for mistakes (there were none). It turns out that I had incorrectly phased a number of my transformers. Tonight I successfully ran a locomotive all the way from the end of district 8 (Staging Area) to the other end of the layout (~47’) through districts 7 and then 4 without incident or malfunction. This is a long overdue major step forward. Pending further investigation, I have removed the Legacy Powermasters from the layout circuits. I will check them out carefully tomorrow in the light of day. Upon his return from Kentucky, Daniel Boone was asked if he had ever been lost. "Well", he said, "I wasn't lost, but I was a mite bewildered for 3 days." I know just how he felt. 
George
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 14:24:49 GMT
Glad you were able to find the issue and that's a nice long run!
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Post by ptc on Jan 13, 2021 14:38:46 GMT
Progress, what a good word. Nice that you found the issue and were able to correct it.
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Post by Country Joe on Jan 14, 2021 3:05:56 GMT
Wiring problems can drive you nuts. Little things can cause big problems. It's good that you got it figured out with a little help from your friends.
I love that Daniel Boone quote.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 14, 2021 3:23:37 GMT
Great progress George!! Remember, when you start uttering those famous four letter words, just tell yourself: "This is a hobby, it's only a hobby... and I love this hobby". (before you throw something) Once when I was building a layout with a friend we instituted a 'curse jar'. While we were working if we said a bad word we had to add a dollar to the jar. We had a lot of fun calling each other out, then making excuses to get out of paying. Imagine, putting Super O track together and the track doesn't join together and slips, slicing your hand and fingers up, and being aware it'll cost you if you say the wrong thing. By the time we sorta finished the layout we had enough to buy a couple freight cars. (This was during the MPC era when you could do that with a few bucks).
Love to see a video of the locomotive traversing the layout!
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Post by g3750 on Jan 14, 2021 19:04:01 GMT
Great progress George!! Remember, when you start uttering those famous four letter words, just tell yourself: "This is a hobby, it's only a hobby... and I love this hobby". (before you throw something) Once when I was building a layout with a friend we instituted a 'curse jar'. While we were working if we said a bad word we had to add a dollar to the jar. We had a lot of fun calling each other out, then making excuses to get out of paying. Imagine, putting Super O track together and the track doesn't join together and slips, slicing your hand and fingers up, and being aware it'll cost you if you say the wrong thing. By the time we sorta finished the layout we had enough to buy a couple freight cars. (This was during the MPC era when you could do that with a few bucks).
Love to see a video of the locomotive traversing the layout! Thanks!! You had me laughing and remembering. On some of the projects I ran, I did the very same thing - instituted a curse jar. The customer had a patent on stupidity (or at least could have applied for one), and the jar tended to fill up fast. I was the worst offender.  We had a very nice party at the end of the project with all the $$$ we collected.
Wow, Super O track? You are a glutton for punishment. I have another friend who swears (with or by, not sure which) Super O. He has his curves custom bent by someone. 
At some point soon, the plan is to hitch 20+ ore cars behind double-headed Decapods and make a video. They can't go too far (layout's only about 40% done).
By the way, your Flyers played an entire 60 minute game last night and deserved the victory.
George
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Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 14, 2021 19:43:33 GMT
George, another funny thing about the curse can. This was years ago when my buddy and I were very young adults. More than once we borrowed from the can for gas money for our cars! And I can still feel the pain from the Super O track slicing my hands when it slipped putting it together!!
The ore cars behind your Decapods will look really cool. Looking forward to seeing that.
It was a nice win for the Flyers last night. But with not much of a training camp there were a lot of mistakes. Both the Flyers and Penguins are in a very tough division so it will be interesting!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 20:01:26 GMT
Brian, My wife, a registered nurse, at one time worked with a woman who had a curse jar. Same principle. In fact that woman actually sometimes put money in as soon as she showed up for work, because she knew she was going to have a rough day.
You are right about the Penguins and Flyers being in a tough division. I knew there would be so many mistakes by all teams with little training camp. I hope the Penguins' young goaltenders can pick up the slack in a hurry since they sent Murray packing.
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Post by Adam on Jan 14, 2021 22:18:29 GMT
Go Bruins!
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Post by ptc on Jan 14, 2021 22:30:05 GMT
"Go Bruins!"
I knew you would say that. I have followed then since I could hold a hockey stick. There was an interesting casual discussion on the news the other day about the greatest hockey players. Bobby Orr of course was mentioned. My all-time hockey hero, a Bruin throughout his career.
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Post by Adam on Jan 14, 2021 23:10:30 GMT
First game tonight against my first hockey team, the Devils.
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Post by g3750 on Jan 14, 2021 23:13:20 GMT
Updated 1/14/2021: Courtesy of another friend, I learned of an approach to wiring the "data wire" of a DZ-2001 Data Wire Driver that will aid in the debugging of malfunctioning DZ-2500 switch machines. The DZ-2500C has a much better performance track record than its predecessor, but a single malfunctioning device can affect all devices on that string. The answer is to limit the number of switches on any single stretch of wire. I used terminal blocks with jumpers and SPST switches to construct a panel. This will be installed near my DZ-2001s. I have 3 Switch Buses. Here's my progress so far.
The Western Switch Bus has 9 switch machines, divided into 4 different wire groups. Each group can be de-activated by a SPST switch.
The Central Switch Bus is the largest, with 20 switch machines. These are divided into 8 separate groups. Finally the Eastern Switch Bus has the remaining 13 in 4 groups. Below are the terminal blocks (w/ Jumpers) for (left to right) the Western, Central, and Eastern switch buses.
Below is a spreadsheet showing how switches in Switch Bus 2 will be assigned to flip switches.
Below is the panel with holes.
Here's a test configuration with a light and switch using 12VAC.
Close-up of the SPST switches and their mounting holes.
We have a short wire with a forked spade terminal on one end for the terminal block. The other end is twisted around the SPST lug and shrink-wrapped.
Finally, here's the panel. I still have to label the switches and cut the mounting pieces for it.
I'm hoping to have this done tomorrow.
George
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Post by g3750 on Jan 24, 2021 4:10:55 GMT
Updated 1/23/2021: When I last updated you, I was working on a panel of SPST switches to debug some 42 individual DZ-2500s by isolating the signal provided from a DZ-2001 Data Wire Driver. After spending a considerable amount of time making the panel and starting to wire it up, I realized I wasn't happy with it. The lugs on the back of the SPST switches were so close that the wires could be forced together, making the connection physically despite the switch. And it just didn't look good or right to me. So I tore it out and rethought the problem. The answer was the Atlas 205 Connector, a panel of 3 slide switches that could be easily expanded, looked good, and made the panel much neater. 
I removed the old panel, hooked these up, added labels and re-installed it. It looks like this now:
I just tested it. Works perfectly! With the connector ON, the switches respond to commands from the CAB-1. With the connector in the OFF position, they don't - electrically isolated.
Problem solved! I can now get on to wiring the switches in the Staging Area.
More when I know it.
George
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As the NMRA reminds us: "Model railroading is fun!" (followed by manic laughter) 
