Skip to main content

 

here is my dilemma, if I power off bpc 1-4 there should be no power to any tracks correct? 

 

I turned off power to all tracks #1 has .265 ac

 

track #2 has .265 ac

 

track #3 has no power all zeros

 

track #4 has .965 ac

 

if I power up 1-4 tracks all has 18.87 ac volts

 

all testing with volt meter from bpc power connections going to each individual track/block and using the paired common wire connection to each track/block.

 

I have traced each wire to the connection to bpc and back to the tiu channel what am I missing?

 

I have used mth 12 terminal strips for each tiu channel for the common wire I have 6 of them so each track/block is separate with one common link.

I have all 6 wires connected to same one wire from legacy base is this where the backfeed to powered off track/blocks is coming from?

 

I also run conventional engines so that is reason for bpc's as I tried dcs way and not using it all the time its just easier not using it and using the old school way sometimes less is more!

 

thanks for any help.

 

as a side note track #4 is same track/block that my big boy 2014 edition has signal issue with turning tender lights on/off and changing smoke features on/off low/medium/high I put same engine in block 3 all works with each button push!

 

now I have a metal bridge that lowers and raises it is about 13 inches away and tracks are same distance away and 13 inches below the track with signal issues.

 

 I don't think this is the issue as my S-3 at&sf #3751  lionel gevo diesel all work there fine.

 

how would I test to see if for some reason only the big boy has a signal issue with that area?

 

again thanks for any help on this too.

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

moonman, yes all bpc's are powered by a stand alone transformer.

 

am I correct that the jumper wires are supposed to be used to daisy chain power from bpc so the other 3 tracks will get power?

 

I used search feature and ran a ground wire on underside of plywood connected to ground wire in box and for best part that area including where bridge is has mostly resolved the big boy signals issue I ran ground wire from begin to end of that block.

 

thanks for the reply.

 

am still curious as to why only the one block on that bpc is totally unpowered why the rest is getting some power. the only connection the blocks share is the common and one wire from legacy base.

 

Last edited by StPaul

Well, a couple of thoughts...

What are you using for track power? (Just for my interest)

 

Your "earth ground" for Legacy signal should not be connected to any of the layout track power circuits.

 

I have found that many of the modern transformers maintain a small reference voltage and not a true zero. But, the .965 seems high.

 

take some measurements at the TIU output posts and see if it correlates.

 

But, the question still remains...the bpc relay should be stopping all power.

 

Are the track transformer and the BPC power supply on the same circuit from the electric panel? If they are on opposite legs,(different circuits) they could be out of phase and perhaps cause this "backfeed" anomaly.

 

email SantaFeFan and reference this thread. He would know if this is related to the BPC 1 design or not. The product had some nuances that I can't recall the details of now.

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by Moonman:

Well, a couple of thoughts...

What are you using for track power? (Just for my interest)

 

mth z-4000 - one called the max and 3 lionel 180 bricks each tiu channel and bpc has its own transformer all are in phase.

 

Your "earth ground" for Legacy signal should not be connected to any of the layout track power circuits.

 

using a 20 amp double pole breaker so common and grounds are shared but it is working.

 

 I have found that many of the modern transformers maintain a small reference voltage and not a true zero. But, the .965 seems high.

 

take some measurements at the TIU output posts and see if it correlates.

 

But, the question still remains...the bpc relay should be stopping all power.

 

and there's the question why

 

 

Are the track transformer and the BPC power supply on the same circuit from the electric panel? If they are on opposite legs,(different circuits) they could be out of phase and perhaps cause this "backfeed" anomaly.

 

yes same breaker a double pole

 

email SantaFeFan and reference this thread. He would know if this is related to the BPC 1 design or not. The product had some nuances that I can't recall the details of now.

 

will send this to him I might have a spare bpc someplace deep n dark LOL.

 

 

 

I suppose if all your power supplies  do not have the exact same voltage and they all have the "U" connection in common there may be a slight difference in voltage. Is it enough to worry about? I don't know. Is it enough to light up a caboose, I hope not.

 

Are all the power supplies phased by connecting  all  the commons  together with a heavy wire?

Originally Posted by StPaul:

Moonman,

I checked codes on ph1's are a 2009 and the one 135 brick is a 1094 code.

Good news. It's not the PH180. On to more detective work.

 

I don't know if I can help much more. I use SC-2's with the ground trace cut for the track in power and use the external wall wart to power it. Wireless and six 15 amp relays. Can be used for switches , accessories and block power control.

 

I do know that Jon Z changed the internals in the BPC2 to eliminate some design issues with the BPC 1.

been busy but finally able to troubleshoot bpc power issue.

 

this makes no sense to me at all this is what I have discovered.

 

1. turn bpc tracks 1-4 off and with transformer power off or on these are the readings

 

trk 1- 0.154 volts

 

trk 2- 0.504 volts

 

trk 3- .0000 volts

 

trk 4- .0000 volts

 

now if I turn bpc tracks 1-4 on with transformer power off I get

 

trk 1- .0000 volts

 

trk 2- .0000 volts

 

trk 3- .0000  volts

 

trk 4- .0000  volts

 

now its nice to see power is off when transformer is off I would think that with the transformer power on that with bpc's tracks 1-4 turned off would also result in a zero reading?

 

 

 

Last edited by StPaul

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×