switch tower 445

Help us help you by sharing a little more:

1) What edition of the 445 is this? An original 445 or reissue with a 6- product number?

2) How do you currently have it connected up (what wires where)?

3) What are you seeking to achieve? (Activation by button? Activation by train presence? )

Is the man on the balcony coming out ? 

My little man was quite lazy.  He needed a full 16 volts to motivate him to descend the stairs.  

Tom

Definitely use something other than track power for better operation.

I use an insulated track section with mine (a PW version) and it works fine. #1 and #3 clips are for hot/common. #2 clip goes to the insulated side of the rail.

But as mentioned above, more detailed information will help diagnose your problem(s).

The largest contact is sliding between the building and the side of the stairway, make sure that the side of the stair is clean and smooth.  You can use a drop of PFTE or graphite on the side of the stair.  Also, make sure that the metal slide that the man is attached to does not have too much play that might allow it to get out of line and bind.