I ran into an almost unexplainable shorting problem in my layout that I resolved but I am not sure how or why. I have a 9' by 12' layout where I use K-Line supersnap track. The layout uses an outer loop running around the perimeter and two inner loops for a 3 train setup. All three loops are isolated from each other. The shorting problem started in the outer loop which includes 2 supersnap switches. I use a kind of star configuration for the track power where wiring is attached at 3 points and then meet to send a single wire that runs to a ZW transformer. Everything worked fine for years but just the other day when I was running a passenger train I noticed the green light on the transformer dulling and then the circuit breaker tripped. It was as if one of the cars or engine had derailed but in actuality there was no derailment.
I removed all the cars and engine so there was nothing sitting on the track. When I turned on power the green ZW ligh began to fade and the circuit breaker in the transformer tripped. To ensure it wasn't the transformer, I removed the wiring to the ZW (A/U) and there was no short indication. I then removed wiring from the track and ran just one set of wires from the transformer to one point to the track and the shorting problem re appeared. I began isolating sections of track to which the shorting disappeared. I did notice at one section where the track met a switch they were not quite pushed in together so I proceeded to ,push them together. When I tested the complete track circuit the shorting problem disappeared. I then set up the track power wiring to the three original point around the loop still no shorting problem. As of 2 days later every seems fine.
Maybe there is something in one K-Line track section that is defective and I can replace it but at this time I am leaving well enough alone but what happened? Any ideas so I can avoid the problem in the future.
JohnF
