55F Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 (edited) I am building a new end to fiddle yard layout. Each board using Peco code 75 with Seep point motors. Each board tested on completion....everything worked before moving to the next board. Saturday came, the day to join it all together. Bated breath!! None of the points will work and being electro-frog, some of the track sections dead. I have checked the point motor wiring from the power supply [Gaugemaster tranformer/controller] via the CDU to the points using a continuity meter and everything looks ok [to me!!] including board to board connections . As I said at the top I am completely baffled! What would you do next?? All help will be appreciated Edited March 20, 2018 by 55F Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 What are you using at the control panel or its equivalent to trigger the points? It needs to be a momentary supply NOT a steady supply via a standard toggle switch. Are you using stud and probe, or a sprung (ie momentary on) toggle switch which when operated and released then springs back to the centre position? You need the momentary contact device between the CDU and the point motor. If you are getting a continuity readings between CDU terminals and point motors with all power off then there is something wrong. I'm absolutely guessing here, but suspect you may have used standard on/on or on/off/on toggles switches. If that is the case you will need a momentary contact device to switch the points. These sprung toggle switches are sometimes denoted in catalogues as (on)/off/(on) Generally CDUs only hold enough charge to operate a point or two, then they need a second or so to recharge before the next triggering action. If they are permanently connected to the motor(s) then they will NEVER charge up. Another thought, have you checked the return wiring to the CDU? John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
55F Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 Thank you for that response John. I am using momentary contact switches [as on previous layouts] but you have prompted me to wonder if a soldered connection at a switch is causing it to be continually on..........presumably that would cause a problem, although there is no sound from the point motor indicating an attempt to switch??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted March 20, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2018 I had a similar fault recently. It turned out the supply to the CDU wasn't man enough. I used a 20vdc 5A laptop supply and its now ok Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Yes Thank you for that response John. I am using momentary contact switches [as on previous layouts] but you have prompted me to wonder if a soldered connection at a switch is causing it to be continually on..........presumably that would cause a problem, although there is no sound from the point motor indicating an attempt to switch??? Yes a permanently 'on' switch, caused by solder somewhere would cause that problem. The point motor would not make any noise as the current flow would be too low. You would need to continuity test across each switch. What can cause that if the switch got overheated whilst soldering, that can result in failiure, been there done that!!!!. Reused switches which have been soldered/unsoldered more that once can be prone to soldering overheat causing internal distortion. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I had a similar fault recently. It turned out the supply to the CDU wasn't man enough. I used a 20vdc 5A laptop supply and its now ok I'm surprised you need a CDU with 20volt and 5amps... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted March 21, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2018 I'm surprised you need a CDU with 20volt and 5amps... Surely you know that the main reason for using a CDU, is to limit the power to solenoid type motors, to prevent them burning out. The laptop power supply suggest, won't stop pumping out the current, if a switch fails. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 (edited) Surely you know that the main reason for using a CDU, is to limit the power to solenoid type motors, to prevent them burning out. The laptop power supply suggest, won't stop pumping out the current, if a switch fails. & to provide a burst because the same transformer which is producing the voltage also tries to prevent a change in current & also to stop the spark produced by opening the switch again, so it prolongs the life of your switches too. Edited March 21, 2018 by Pete the Elaner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
55F Posted March 21, 2018 Author Share Posted March 21, 2018 I am indebted to JohnB for pointing me in this direction. Managed to to get things working today after much frustration, however after checking 'some' of the points and finding them all to be working, suddenly nothing is working again! I suspect your experience is very valid....there must be some damaged switche causing a short. Yes I have used the switches before so I think renewal of all the switches might be a good idea. May be a useful lesson for others here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted March 21, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2018 I am indebted to JohnB for pointing me in this direction. Managed to to get things working today after much frustration, however after checking 'some' of the points and finding them all to be working, suddenly nothing is working again! I suspect your experience is very valid....there must be some damaged switche causing a short. Yes I have used the switches before so I think renewal of all the switches might be a good idea. May be a useful lesson for others here. Before doing that, run some tests with a multimeter (if you don't have one, get one), this will tell you lots of useful information, rather than guessing the problem. Connecting a multimeter across the output terminals, would be a good start, as to the nature of the problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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