RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
PWR-56 Question
Wayne:
Thanks for the replies and suggestions.
Yes I have a 20 gauge bus running the length of the track. with feeders (small like switch machine wire) every 6 feet or so.
The PWR-56 is at the beginning of the bus, then the bus goes in both directions from there.
Yes the Icon turns Red? but I am in the same room? I have the PWR-56 set as a repeater also, is that a mistake?
I will try the quarter trick when someone is here to watch the power light for me.
Wayne:
Oh one more thing. On the HC2 when I go to Accessories, select the PWR-56 and go to Info. There is no Current, it stays at 0% even if a engine is moving. It also says OK No Faults.
G8B4Life:
This really does sound like the loco's are loosing power, but 15 to 20' is a short distance.
So, let's eliminate a couple more variables with a couple more questions.
Did the loco's run fine before conversion to RailPro?
Your Zephyr and your PWR-56 aren't connected at the same time? Just asking...
How is your PWR-56 mounted, vertically (like on the side of a post) or flat (same plane as the benchtop)? It must be mounted flat for some reason.
This one possibly matters, did you set the current for the LM-2S's?
Also give this a try, once you set one of the loco's going, go to the info screen for the loco and watch the motor current and track voltage graphs until it looses communication, they might tell us what's going on better.
20 gauge isn't really large enough for a power bus of the size (length) you've got. Ring recommends at least 16 gauge for runs of up to 30'.
Without knowing the actual size of your droppers I can't say if they are really large enough either
If you do the shorting test be aware that with such a small gauge power bus the PWR-56 probably won't detect the short as some distance away from the PWR-56.
- Tim
roofintrash:
It could also be loco pick up issues and,or,dirty track. Does the BB Athearn still have the old sintered wheels? How does the Bachmann pic up power? The LM-2 seems very sensitive to poor pickup, as the slightest interruption will give you the red icon. Just another thing to look at.
William Brillinger:
Checking the info screen as the unit runs will tell the story.
Beef up that bus. 20ga is definitely too small. If you took 12 or 14ga wire and ran it along under the layout connecting it to your existing bus every 10 ft, I bet your problem would be gone.
You could test this by taking the heavier wire and connecting it to your bus near the power supply and about 10 ft from the end of the bus run. You could probably just use a household extension cord that you have on hand for the test.
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