@ADCX Rob posted:What are these devices(circled) that look like capacitors, and what is their function in this application?
Rob:
You have a sharp eye! Those are indeed disk capacitors.
Two MTH PS2 engines, when approaching a switch on my layout would go into a shutdown and restart by themselves. A fellow O gauge club member correctly diagnosed the problem as being the short electronic burst the non-derailing function of the switch puts out. Apparently these short bursts are on the same frequency as the shutdown and restart on some PS2 engines. The solution was to install the disk capacitors on the terminals of my switches. This “masks” the non-derailing electronic burst from the engine’s electronics. ( I’ll note I’ve never had this issue with PS3 engines, only PS2 and even then just two - a C&O F3 ABA set and a PRR GG1.)
I was able to get by with two disk capacitors on some switches whereas a few required four. In any event; adding these disk capacitors completely eliminated the shutdown and restart issue.
Curt
