Point problem and suspected short circuit?

[Beegu]

Hi Everyone,

I am a complete beginner and my 10 year old twins and I are trying to build a new set. The orginal set came with just a simple oval, and standard controller (8250) and standard power track. We bought extension pack A & B. WE have not yet got any of the link wires mentioned in your guide book.

We set everything up, got both the inner and outer sidings to work. When we pinned it to the base board the inner siding stopped working, but the outer siding is fine. When we switch the point to direct the train into the inner siding the train stalls any where on the track (not just the right-hand side). This happens no matter where the setting on the point to the outer siding. The controller will not start again until the power has been switched off and on and the point returned to the outer oval. 

We have dismantled it and rebuilt it again (more than once). We have been through the Guidance booklet and the FAQs at the top of this thread and searched the whole forum but still can't get it to work. We've checked for damage to the point, track, stray metal etc. Visually, everything seems fine. We've even tried it in the position of the 'outer' siding - same problem.

Is this a more likely to be a problem of how we have set it up, the flow of electricity, the point or the controller? It has only recently come out of the box and did initially work. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we are completely fluxomed. 

many thanks - a very confused Mum

[96RAF]

You have obviously read the downloadable help guides from the top of the page which is good as bormally we would redirect anyone having problems to those guides.

 

It sounds like you may have built in a short which is overloading and tripping out the controller. Those basic controllers are not very good and trip out at the drop of a hat.

 

The way to check for a short is to take all the locos off track and see if the controller trips out, then you know its the track and not a particular loco or combination of locos overloading the controller. You can use a simple car light bulb as a circuit tester if you do not have access to a multi-meter to see where there is power across the track. Note that you have to turn the controller up to put power to the track.

 

If you think of points as light switches, every time you switch a point the electricity follows the path you have selected so depending upon where your controller is initially connected to the track depends upon if the electricity is cut off or not for any combination of points direction. Bear in mind electricity can go in both directions round the trck until t meets a switch - be it on or off - that allows it past or stops it.

 

[Chrissaf]

If Rob's suggested methodology above seems to prove a track issue, then read on:

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It has been known for Hornby points to leave the factory with intermittent short circuit faults on them. The description that you have observed i.e the power short out when the point is switched to the siding. Fits in potentially with the point being faulty**. One either needs a test multimeter to prove the fault. Or substitution of the suspected faulty point to prove it. And of course, there is no guarantee that buying a new replacement point will solve the issue.

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Note** this previous question and answer describes how the faulty point can create the situation your observations describe.

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https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/loop-siding-short-circuit-problem/?p=1/#post-231478

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You are a little bit between a rock and a hard place.

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Even if you bought a cheap multimeter on eBay (less than £8 delivered), then without knowing what you are doing and how to use the meter to look for and prove a fault, it may not be of any real use to you.

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In your circumstances, I would probably take the risk and purchase a new point to substitute the suspected faulty one, but be prepared to stomach the added expense if a new replacement point doesn't make any difference. At least you would then know that the issue lies elsewhere.

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TIP: As a newbie poster on the forum, just be aware that the 'Blue Button with the White Arrow' is not a 'Reply to this post' button. If you want to reply to any of the posts, scroll down and write your reply in the reply text box at the bottom of the page and click the Green 'Reply' button.

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See also – further TIPs on how to get the best user experience from this forum.

https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/tips-on-using-the-forum/

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