Issue using Lionel FasTrack Accessory Activation Track 6-12029

Ensign Leffler:

Law 36: You gotta go with what works. 

Prefer track power and accessory activation track myself.

What, me worry?

Attach the ground on your accessory power to the ground on your track power.

Ground is coming from accessory activation track to complete the circuit.

Just so we can help, and hopefully not a stupid question; just want to make sure we're all on the same page.

You've looked at page 6 and 7 of the manual for the activation track?

Manual

Right, if you are using a power supply for the accessory and a separate power supply for the trains, you need to tie the grounds together on the two power supplies so the accessory is grounded to its original power source.

The accessory activation track manual is about as  clear as mud.  My feeble understanding is that accessory gets wired to some power, in my case a different power supply from the track/train power.  And then in order to complete the circuit using the accessory activation track, the ground outside rail from the accessory activation track gets wired to the accessory.

Goshawk, so if I connect the grounds on all the transformers, all be well?

The control board and small DC motor that operate the accessory will not draw much power. Just operate it off of track power as in your second example of the original post. it won't cause any power issues for the trains.

it's not like postwar stuff.

The answer to your last question is yes, all will be well if you ensure that they are phased.

Thanks!

Alfred E Neuman posted:

Ensign Leffler:

Law 36: You gotta go with what works. 

Prefer track power and accessory activation track myself.

What, me worry?

No Ensign Lefler references, please, without a photo.

TheDude23112 posted:

Goshawk, so if I connect the grounds on all the transformers, all be well?

 

If I understand your question, it should work.