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I have two loops of track that are not connected. both connected to a tpc400 powered by a 180pwh. i keep having issues with the outer loop. it started off with train just running along the track and the sound would just shut off at one particular spot. engine would continue just as it was just with no sound. i thought it was the loco. tried another did the same thing. so i checked all my connections. everything looked good. but i dissconected everything and hooked it back up and it worked just fine. i went about two weeks with no issues then it started again. except instead of the sound cutting out the loco would just stop. now heres the part i dont understand i was runing the 261 at the time. loco stoped but the sound contiuned. i reset the loco and it took right off again like nothing was wrong. got back to the same spot did tghe same thing i immideatley reset the loco. off we go again. its like i loose power just long enough to make a loco stop all the meanwhile my inner loop has no issues what so ever. I'm just using two terminal fast trac sections one for the inner loop one for the outter loop both connected to the tpc. what should i check i'm a total electrical newb not sure where to start
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quote:
First step here is to clean the track thoroughly. I'd do that before anything else.


Exactly correct...then:

Take all the trains off the track.

Get a voltmeter.

Clip the voltmeter leads to the track at the suspect spot.

Turn the transformer track power to "ON"

Watch the voltmeter, while you carefully push down, up, sideways, etc on the track.

Do you see any fluctuations in the meter reading?

Most electrical problems need to be measured, quantified, analyzed, etc, with a meter before you expend a lot of time and frustration chasing wild geese.

The above is just the first step, of course. You would do these tests after you have checked all the wiring attachments to the track, in the area where you are having a problem of current interruption
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