Pedroski Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I have a DCC layout which worked well until I ballasted some of the track (about a third of it all). Now, when I set my rail master and elink to on the elink just flashes on and off Which I presume suggests a short. When using the select only with a DCC loco it shows a short, but powers a non DCC loco. I don't understand why I would induce a short just by ballast in the track?Do I just strip the ballast off and start again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 What ballast did you use Is it perfectly dry, how are the power wires connected to the track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Comparing the DCC track power and signal against DC Analogue is like comparing petrol to diesel, both can be used to power an engine but they do so in completely different ways..DC Analogue can still work with a certain amount of leakage current flowing between the two rails. But not so with DCC. If you have used an unusual material for your ballast (for example maybe something containing graphite which is a conductor), or the glue has not dried out and cured fully yet. Then the ballast may possibly be allowing a capacitance to be present between the rails (a totally theoretical suggestion). The DCC track signal is a pseudo AC signal at a nominal 7,000 cycles per second. To this type of signal, any capacitance can potentially look like a short circuit. This is the reason why the 0.1uF suppression capacitor in DC Analogue track power (R8206 & R602) connectors need to be removed when they are being used on DCC layouts. DC Analogue track power is completely immune to capacitance between the rails..However that said, what you have described is very unusual and something I have never heard reported before. I would think it more likely that some more basic error in laying the ballast has been done. But what....I can't think of anything obvious that comes to mind..On balance, this query should have perhaps been posted in the Hornby DCC forum, since your issue does not seem to affect DC Analogue operation. If your post and answers should disappear from here, then the Hornby DCC forum will be where you will find it relocated to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Many years ago I used the track with damp ballast and had lots of intermittent shorts until I saw the error of my ways. Chris I was wondering how the power wires were connected. If power connectors are used they may have shorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I have some ballast gleaned from water filter cartridges which I think may have a charcoal or carbon content, something I had never thought about until I saw your comment Chris, so I had better check conductivity of it all before it gets near a track. That may just have prevented a load of grief later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 This is why I don't muck about with other materials for ballast. The proper stuff doesn't conduct electricity, unless it is wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 PVA glue which is water based can take quite a long time to dry I remember we used sawdust mixed with PVA to cover the expanded polystyrene scenery on a club layout and it took weeks to dry. Water conducts. Perhaps some attention with a hair drier may help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedroski Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 This gets weirder by the minute. First of all, I used country scenic ballast (medium). It turns out 2 of my locos are now dead. I have stripped out all of my track and could find nothing causing the short. Is it possible I just switched the power on too early after ballasting and the moisture caused two of my locos to fry? Also, would the locos be savable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 How are the power wires connected to the track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedroski Posted February 15, 2020 Author Share Posted February 15, 2020 Bus wires and soldered droppers, out from elink. I solder on the bottom of the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 OK thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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