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Reply to "Re-wiring Layout"

Arnold, something to ponder: Even though the ZW is sending power to the crossing gates (hot side), since they're activated by the insulated rails, their common connection is through the track Common.  Gate activation increases the current flow which causes a slight voltage drop through the Track Common part of the wiring back to the Common ground bus connection.  Another matter is since the slow down only occurs in one direction, it may have something to do with the fact that only one outside rail has a hard connection to the Z-4000.  The other outside rail has the added resistance of the train wheels and axles.

All that aside, since the major slowdown evident in the video only appears to occur just before the switch where the train re-enters the mainline, there may be a couple of causes for this.  Depending on which outside rail is insulated and where the common feed is tied into this section of track, there may be poor conductivity between track sections on the Common powered outside rail.  If this Common powered outside rail is also the side which has the fibre insulating pin at the switch, then that last piece or two of track just before the switch only has it's Wired Common connection feeding in from one side and not the switch side.  Without more details on exactly how the Common wiring is configured, its difficult to know for sure how much any of this may be affecting the slow down.

If a locomotive has traction tires and they are all on the same side or has traction tires on the same side and the Common collector is only on one truck, that's also something to consider.

If you haven't already tried this, tightening the track around the Common connected outside rail pins, cleaning track, train and loco wheels may help.

Last edited by SteveH

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