Gordonotron Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Hi everyone, Looking for a bit of help, I have two Peco E199 Three Way points back to back on a new layout. The lanes in seem fine with insulating points on the four frog rails but I either have no power to the blades or the frogs. At this point I suspect it is the rails but I can't even short the rails with a feed from a live rail to either frog or blades. The system also isn't shorting if the blades are forced over. So the summary: feed on rails between both points insulating joiners on all four frog rails (8 in total) Four cobalt DCC motors installed with two frogs to the rear motor and one to the most forward motor Have a missed anything silly? or is something not right? Also does anyone know how I can test the track feed with a multimeter? Would make testing where the issue lies much easier. Thanks very much Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Four cobalt DCC motors installed with two frogs to the rear motor and one to the most forward motor Have a missed anything silly? or is something not right? Also does anyone know how I can test the track feed with a multimeter? Would make testing where the issue lies much easier. Clearly something wrong, but I can't say what. I am concerned about how you say the frogs are connected to different motors, but without a diagram its impossible to say whether your description is correct. For testing, disconnect the DCC power to the track, switch the multimeter to "resistance" (or even better "continuity beeper" if you have that option on the meter), and measure one rail to its connected blade, then the connected frog, etc.. Resistance should be zero, or nearly zero (or a continuity beeper will beep) for any rails which should have the same power. Switch the turnout motors, and check again through rail, blades, to frog(s), etc.. - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordonotron Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 Thanks Nigel, I will give it a try. I have attached the diagram showing how I have them wired. No mods made to the points, just out a box and put on the boards. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold traction Posted July 14, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 14, 2015 Which type of Cobalt are you using? This might make a difference. This link explains how to wire up a 3 way point, hopefully you should be able to see how yours is different. http://www.dccconcepts.com/vamr/dcc-advice-11-wiring-pointwork-and-special-track-conditions-for-dc-or-dcc A photo of page 7 of the above link:- Showing the bottom connections:- Cheers Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted July 14, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 14, 2015 It's also highly recommended to solder a bonding wire to the 3 rails on each side, as it's ever so easy to get a dead blade caused by poor contact. I appreciate the points are already laid but if you can do this it will improve reliability no end. If you look underneath the turnouts you will see where Peco have already helpfully cut the webbing for you to do this. And it's best to not only bond these 3 rails together but to also make the bonding wire a DCC dropper too. I have 3 of these turnouts and when I first used them I had reliability issues especially after ballasting and painting, so when the turnouts were re-used for my current layout I put the bonding wires in and there's been no problem since. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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