Atlas double slip switch stalling issues

Power the converging rails. Hot in the appropriate direction-- ground in the other. I use DPDT switches that I align with the switch machine direction.

Are you sure they are not just losing the common side connection via the wheels? Rubber tires and insulated rails are not a great combination for operation as we've discovered.

Gray:

As CTR mentioned you can power the diamond rails according to the direction the loco is traveling through. There is a way to do this electronically. I had to do this with my Ross double crossover. It involves the use of a  Z-stuff 1008 relay or an Atlas O snap relay. Attached is a diagram that should get you started. You will need to determine which rails you have to power as my diagram is for the Ross crossover.

Curious - there have been complaints of cars jumping and de-railing while going through the slip switch. Have you seen this?

Joe

Try what BOBBYD said

These (I have 9) we all upgraded by Atlas with the insulated outer "frogs", nothing would work before then except sparks.  I have not had any cars or locomotives derail, but the are very rough.

I believe the center is the problem as once stopped I can take a "hot" probe and touch a pickup and things will start again.

I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel, but even though I will lose some operational flexibility (not to mention $$$), I'm about ready to replace with standard #5's for reliability and quit having to modify every other engine I want to run.

I forgot to mention, I have one DSS that is the new style from the factory with the different shaped middle conductor.  It doesn't seem to have the problem the older ones do.  I may keep it somewhere.

NHVRYGray posted:

These (I have 9) we all upgraded by Atlas with the insulated outer "frogs", nothing would work before then except sparks.  I have not had any cars or locomotives derail, but the are very rough.

I believe the center is the problem as once stopped I can take a "hot" probe and touch a pickup and things will start again.

Do all the center rails have power? Are all the outer rails connected to common? A picture with a ruler showing the center rail to center rail gap? It does not appear to be a huge distance in the images.

Atlas use to sell a separate circuit board, #6924, that may solve your problem.  Some of its functions were:

- Power routing to the rails to prevent gaps (this is what you may need so your engines don't lose power)

- Non-derail

- Momentary activation of the Atlas switch motor to prevent burnout

I say "use to sell" because I can't find it on Atlas' site.  You may be able to find them on auction sites.

I had to run center rail power to the center of the Double Slip Switches.  Now my engines pass.  My two Atlas O Trainman Santa Fe U23B engines both stopped because the rollers hit the dead spot in the Atlas Double Slip Switch.  The engines only had two picks that both fell into dead spots.  I won't buy Trainman engines. The Atlas O Master line with four center pickups run fine through the Double Slip Switches.

I have an older NOS Atlas  double slip that I would like to install but I couldn’t roll anything through it without tripping my breaker. Any ideas here on what I can do? I’m going to be modifying my track this fall and would like to use it. My plan is to set it up on a bench and try to figure it out.

Here's the wiring diagram from the Atlas sight.

Jan

When you say older NOS, look at the guard frogs outside of the center roller support (for lack of better words).  If they are bright metal like the point rails they need to be replaced by black insulated ones.

Contact Atlas customer service, they fixed mine.  The job not only requires the parts, but a drill jig and tapping.  Let Atlas do it.

As for my problem of stalling, I need to look at the center per John Rowlen's reply and see what I can do.

Gray

John

how did you power the center of the DSS