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PWR-56 Question

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Wayne:
I thank you all for the help.
I just have the PWR56 connected. I just used a multi meter and it reads 14.55 volts all the way around. I put 16 gauge wire to my test track and it read 14.55 also.
All of my Athearn's have been re powered with A-line 90321 motors.
Being how this is direct radio, could my WiFi router be interfering?
I will have to find a good time to shut down the WiFi and try it then.
Should the bus wire be solid or stranded? Should I use the 20ga for the feeders?

William Brillinger:
My bus wire is 16ga stranded.

G8B4Life:
Wayne,

You won't see any voltage drop on your bus or track without having a load (a running loco, or a bulb or similar) on it. that's why your seeing the full 14.5v all the way around.

Try running one of the loco's and watching the info screen and watch the current and voltage graphs. Let us know what happens.

Is the WiFi router in the same room you have trouble? Can you run the loco's in any of the other rooms?  Your WiFi could be inducing interference, though the LM2-S and HC-2 should accept it no problems. You may end up having to turn the WiFi output power down.

Solid or stranded bus is personal preference really.  Stranded will take more abuse from any repeated flexing etc. My bus (when I actually build something) will be the equivalent of ~12 gauge. Feeders can be much smaller, even down to about 28 gauge as long as they are kept short, like 6 inches or less.

- Tim

Wayne:
Okay here is what happens on the information page as a loco is running.
Motor Current is between 4 and 8 when it stops.
Voltage is Good mid to low range.
Temp is good.Fault line says OK No Faults then goes to Low Voltage.

Engine running with sound track voltage is between 14.5 and 14.3.
Turning WiFi off did not make a difference.
I have the pwr56 mounted flat On Top of a shelf not under it, do you think that has anything to do with it? Otherwise I guess I will rewire with heavier wire.
Will 16g work for the bus and the 20g for feeders?

William Brillinger:
Running a second bus to beef up the existing one will save you from re-connecting feeders.

A simple test to confirm that the 16ga wire will solve the issue would be to take your 16ga wire, and run it to the place where the locos stopped. connect it to the track with some clips and to the existing bus at the power supply and see if you low voltage problem goes away. Do not disconnect the existing bus wire.

If this works, wire the new bus to the old bus every 5 or 6 feet.

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