Lighted bumpers glow slightly even when TPC power is off

Could be a high resistance connecting the two loops somehow, or some leakage of the TPC to the block. Not enough voltage to power the engine, but enough to dimly light the LEDs. Disconnect the TPC and see.

Ed:

The two track bumper lights that "glow faintly" with power off to the one block - do they stay lit or do they eventually turn off? If they stay lit, will they turn off when power to the other block is turned off?

Some more questions - 

1. I assume the blocks electrically isolated from one another (middle rail power)?

2. Are you powering the two blocks with one transformer and two taps or two different transformers?

3. What are you using to control the Legacy block - TPC / Legacy Powermaster etc?

A fast test - switch around a bumper with the issue  with one that does not show the problem. If the problem bumper LED still malfunctions while the good on stays good then you have an issue with the bumper itself. If the bad bumper starts acting normal and the good bumper goes bad then there may be a track / power issue.

Joe

Joe

Try and take any engine off the siding and see if the lights work or not.  Let me know, what is the voltage? It needs to be around 18 volts, 

Model Structures posted:

Ed:

The two track bumper lights that "glow faintly" with power off to the one block - do they stay lit or do they eventually turn off? If they stay lit, will they turn off when power to the other block is turned off?

Some more questions - 

1. I assume the blocks electrically isolated from one another (middle rail power)?

2. Are you powering the two blocks with one transformer and two taps or two different transformers?

3. What are you using to control the Legacy block - TPC / Legacy Powermaster etc?

A fast test - switch around a bumper with the issue  with one that does not show the problem. If the problem bumper LED still malfunctions while the good on stays good then you have an issue with the bumper itself. If the bad bumper starts acting normal and the good bumper goes bad then there may be a track / power issue.

Joe

Joe,

1. Yes;  

2. Yes, one ZW-L

3. Legacy CAB-2 for both blocks.

I just powered up the ZW-L. 18v. on outer (Legacy) loop, and 18v. on the handle for the TPC but the TPC was "off."  I turned off the lights in the room and discovered all the bumpers glow faintly.  I removed the two engines that were on the loops and bumpers continued to light.  I then disconnected the power cable from the TPC to the loop...lights went out. The outer loop still powered at 18v. I guess the culprit is the TPC.  

Knowing this, should I be concerned?  

I know I can run the inner loop "conventionally" with the CAB-2 when the ZW-L is in Command mode.  

thanks,

Ed

Try a Reset on the TPC - address, Aux 1, Aux 2, zero.  That will clear any residual internal settings.

Thanks. I will try that. 

Why use a TPC at all since you have the ZW-L controlled by CAB-2?  I would remove it, unless you have some other reason for it being present.  G

Good question. I asked that of myself as well. I removed it. 

GGG:

Educate me - what is it about the ZW-L (I'm not familiar with this transformer) and the Legacy remote such that a Legacy Powermaster/TPC is not needed? I don't understand how one can control convention/command running w/o either the powermaster or the TPC.

Thanks

Joe

The ZW-L just like the ZW-C before it can receive commands from the CAB-2 (Cab-1 for ZW-C) via the command base.  So you can regulate track voltage and activate whistle, bell, etc...   Basically the ZW-L has a Power Master built in.  So no need for a TPC.  G

G:

Thanks

Joe

Now, I have my ZW-C connected to my track, and I control it with my Cab-1/2, and one of the LEDs in the bumpers is glowing dimly.  It's only 25" away from a power drop.  The other 2 are not lit.  I bet these have some power leakage as putting PS-1 locomotives on the track will also cause them to act like there is power on the track as far as sounds and stuff.

If PS/1 locomotives wake up, you certainly have more than slight leakage of power!

They only do it in command operation if I remember correctly.  But I haven't used my ZW in conventional since getting my VL BB.  Pretty sure this naysayer has seen the light and gone full command, therefore over the course of the next couple years the PS-1's will hopefully be all ERR upgraded.

I was reviewing my documention on the TPC3000 (predecessor of the TPC300/400) and it states that there may be ~2v going out to the track when the power is "off".  Could be the behavior of the current units.

That was exactly what was happening with my TPC. when I removed the TPC and powered the block directly, no dim light bumpers. i concluded the TPC was bleeding so I removed it permanently and run my layout with the ZW-L in command mode.

I had a similar issue using a motion detector and 120 VAC LED lights. I solved it by adding a plain old light bulb to the circuit. The newer motion detectors I have bought make a faint click sound instead, indicating that use a relay inside instead of triacs. Maybe try just putting an old school bumper out there?

LEDs or incandescent lights can be an issue when the frequency of the light is critical as well. I have speed measuring sensors on the track to report Scale MPH, and the LEDs in the track light were incompatible with the sensors. Plenty on light to block when the train went by, but the sensors could not see the frequency they wanted to see well.  I put a couple of incandescent lights over the sensor areas and all is well now.