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#Post#: 2205--------------------------------------------------
Power with FastTrack
By: BillyNYC Date: November 16, 2019, 7:40 pm
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I'm sorry for the newbie question. I've done some research on
this forum but I admit the terminology is confusing me.
My Dad has a train board in his basement that's about 8 feet
long by 3 feet wide. He runs three separate tracks on it and has
trouble with power for 2 of the 3 longest tracks.
He has all new Fast Track fhat he bought to set the layout up.
He gets frustrated because the trains slow down and often stop
in the same spot along the track. Obviously a power problem.
I've checked that the track are connected firmly and have
screwed them into the board. I've tried to buy him additional
power adapters and daisy chain the power around the track. But
even with about 3 adapters the power isn't great and trains will
slow or stop.
I've tried to research how to get more power but I'm confused
about the options. I'm sorry I'm not at any way advanced in
electrical stuff so please excuse the easy questions:
1. The trains we are trying to run are new - the ones that come
with remote controls like Thomas of Polar Express. Can I use
these with a transformer or am I stuck with the plug in units
and the remote alone?
2. My dad has an old transformer from the 50s that he sometimes
swaps in when he wants to run his old old engines. We have
always assumed that we cannot use the newer trains with this,
and that we have to unplug all the power supplies except the
transformer when doing this. But even with this old transformer
the trains struggle around the track. Is it true that we cannot
intermix the transformer and the power supplies?
3. At this point my Dad is frustrated and probably willing to
spend some money to fix the situations once and for all. Are
there any "definitive options" for getting solid power to be
able to run 1 train around a track of this size? What about a
solution for all 3 tracks that doesn't include a fleet or power
supplies all plugged into the same Power strip?
Thanks in advance for your help. I've tried watching some of the
instructional videos and researching this forum but the
terminology is confusing me. Please be gentile in your
responses!
Thank you.
#Post#: 2206--------------------------------------------------
Re: Power with FastTrack
By: TrainLarry Date: November 17, 2019, 3:22 pm
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It sounds like you may have some bad connections between
sections of track, even though they are new. If you have a
lighted car (or voltmeter), use it to pinpoint exactly where
power drops off. Use a jumper wire from the center rail of a
good section of track to the center rail of the bad track and
see if it improves the power. If it does, remove the bad section
of track and replace it with another section if you have one. If
you have no replacement track, slightly bend the connections on
the end of the track to make better contact. Worst case, you may
have to permanently add a jumper between the two tracks
underneath the track sections.
If the new power packs OUTPUT A.C. voltage, you can use the
postwar transformer with the new trains. If the new power packs
do not output A.C. voltage, then you cannot use it.
Make sure you are using a heavy gauge #14 wire to distribute
power to minimize voltage drop between the power supplies and
the track.
Larry
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