Is it possible for power packs to short out. I have gone through 2 Atlas power packs and they started to smell something awfull. I then got a hold of a Tyco power pack and it started to make noise(no Smell) Can it be the line or is it that I just got ahold of old power packs. They are not new.
I have had that...both noise and smells. I quickly shut it down and had no fire. Some have circuit breakers. That, along with "this train never derails," is a good reason never to leave a powered layout unattended. (I have a master switch I use as I go out the door.)
It sounds like you might have a short in your track wiring somewhere that is overloading the power packs. Do you have an ampmeter that you can use? If not you can try removing one wire from the terminal on the power pack and with all of your trains removed from your track, just lightly touch the wire to the terminal. If you see a spark(you may have to darken the room for this) you have something shorted out.
I bet on a wiring issue. I would also bet it on the upper level with the double figure 8 and the reverse loopage.
How many power packs do you have hooked up? I hope it is the number shown in the diagrams- 4. Is it always the one hooked up in the same position? i.e pack 1,2,3 or 4 ?
Yes it is always the same one. I think it is # 4. The last one on the bottom of the diagram. What should I look for in terms of wiring issue. Could it be the wiring on the common. [ October 19, 2005, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: cripp12 ]
Yes, it could easily be that. Remember- I modified my upper layer to take out both figure 8's. 1. Make sure that #4 transformer is absolutely wired correctly, even if you have to crawl under and redo it or if you have to unscrew the tunnel cover. Make very sure that your reverse loop secton(s) are insulated on both ends of each reverse loop on both ends.
It sounds like a wiring issue to me. Don't your power supply's have circuit breakers. If you have a reverse loop wired incorrectly theat can happen. Stay cool and run steam.....
Mark, I think #4 is the connected to the controller. Should I be looking at the reverse loop wiring. I think most of that is the common.
I think I found the problem. I was missing a plastic rail joiner. I even put back one of the power packs and no smell. Thanks everyone. Now I can continue.
If this happens in the future, a little diagnostic regimen might help. If you have a power pack that stinks, disconnect it from the layout, wait until it is cool, then plug it in. If it still stinks or heat up, you've got a burnt power pack. But most likely, that pack is wired in wrong. Then you can go after a short in the wiring. 99.99% of the time it's going to be a short.
