RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
New user, poor experience
William Brillinger:
Wiring diagrams can be found in PDF's at the bottom of this page:
https://www.pdc.ca/rr/catalog/product/harnesses-keep-alives-and-other-accessories/63
What kind of turnouts are you using?
I had a lot of problems with my Peco Insulfrogs and LM-XS's until I covered the frog to prevent a micro-short that was happening.
G8B4Life:
Bill, The turnouts are Atlas.
--- Quote from: The_Dave on February 06, 2020, 05:28:33 PM ---Turnouts are Atlas.
--- End quote ---
Dave, which Atlas turnouts? I'm not familiar with Atlas turnouts.
Here's the link to the MRH thread Bill posted in about his mod to the Peco turnouts. Probably not relevant to the Atlas turnouts (I don't have any so I don't know how they do their frogs) but good knowledge to have none the less: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/19373.
Have you watched the LM's information screen when you go over a turnout to see what it tells you? I'd be doing that if you haven't, it should tell you what the LM is experiencing when the issue occurs.
If this issue is only happening at turnouts as you say then I can't really say that's an RP fault but sounds like a turnout or Kato fault. I presume you've checked the Kato's that all wheels are in gauge etc? Installing a KA might help but KA's are designed for overcoming interrupted power, I don't know what a KA will do for a short.
Apart from the issues at turnouts it works fine the rest of the time?
- Tim
The_Dave:
Tim, Et ALL....
The turnouts are all Atlas Code 83 "Snap Switches" which i'm controlling with TAM Valley Depot micro switch machines. An Example here: https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-82-ho-cd-83-22-radius-snap-switch-manual-l.aspx
To be clear, I am very happy with RP and I believe its the way to go, I Apologize if my original post came across negative but I was frustrated and it had been a long night.
The more I investigate the more I'm certain that my issue is the turnout itself, I think they might be on the cheaper end of whats considered a quality unit. Live and Learn. I like the Idea of KA's but I don't want to band-aid a obvious problem. I think the Kato units are not the issue but I'll confess that I have not checked the gauge on the trucks to see if the wheels are in gauge. Its on the list, just got to get me a gauge. Going to visit Arnie's Trains tomorrow in Westminster CA, I'm sure they'll have one!
On the subject of turnouts, What can you guys off as a known good solution? What do you recommend if price was not a consideration?"
Thanks everyone for the help, its good to have a group like this to bounce off of!
KPack:
Dave - sorry for your troubles. The points that everyone brought up are valid. It sounds to me like it could one of two things (or both)....low quality turnouts, or power interruption across frogs. In my experience Railpro has been more sensitive to power than DCC units, for the reasons mentioned above. When the sound is on Railpro is even more sensitive to power continuity. Adding keep-alive's has solved all power issues for me and allows Railpro to run at its absolute best. Yes, you technically don't need keep alive's if your track and wheels are kept very clean, but my reality is that I run on different layouts and they are most definitely not clean.
Regardless of what you do with the switches I would still install keep-alive's. They are easy to do. If you hardwired all your LM-3S's in, adding a keep-alive will be a walk in the park for you.
-Kevin
The_Dave:
KPack, you should be sorry! It was your videos that got me hooked! :)
Honestly, its not so much trouble but just a journey of discovery. I'm totally on board with RP, its the future and its exactly what I wanted in a system, I just want to make it work as best as I can. The more I read the more i feel that KA's are a good idea regardless of this particular problem. Ill have to go down that rabbit hole next. For now I wan to eliminate the low hanging fruit, Ill check my trucks to see if the wheels are in gauge (i suspect they are) and I'm going to start working on a plan to replace my turnouts. I have a relatively small layout and as my experience grows (already has) this might give me an opportunity to not only improve the quality of the turnouts, but to make some changes that will make my over-all experience when operating much better.
Id also like to say this to the group, thus far my experience with RPUG members has been outstanding. I've read almost every thread posted here and the level of modeling professionalism as well and the quality of the posts are outstanding. I'm a member of my FB groups and most of the stuff posted is crap, not so much here. I'm glad to be a member here and on the RP team.
Thanks Guys!
Ps a picture of one of the installs...
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