Dinamousers | Loss of power across double slip

Loss of power across double slip

Posted by garry.andrew@sky.com on 2021-10-08 20:06

Hi Dinamousers

This is my first post on this (or indeed any!) forum, so please accept my apologies if I have sent it to the wrong place.

Is there anyone who can tell me if I am able to re-wire the turnouts shown in the attached drawing to overcome the problem described below?

My problem is that I lose power to the double slip and standard turnout connected on Track 3 when a route from Track 2 to Track 3 (or reverse) through the double slip (3.6.2) (route B/C) and adjacent turnout (3.1.0) (straight) is selected. All other routes through these turnouts and all other turnouts work perfectly.

I am using Dinamo RMU with TM44s (x5) for power, block and section management; OC32s (x2) for turnout control; and iTrain 5 for train management.
Each of the double slips is controlled through a double pole relay (Dinasys DR4), wired as indicated in the Dinamo Plug and Play manual.

The standard turnout on Track 3 is also powered through the relay board (for the reason indicated below).

I am not sure if the problem is my wiring of the Dinamo modules or my configuration of the iTrain software. Alternatively the physical configuration may simply not be acceptable.

I accept that the standard turnout on Track 3 should not ideally be located beside the double slip and also that this turnout is the “wrong way round” for the end of a block. I had hoped that by isolating both turnouts completely I could derive power through appropriately wired relays, but I have been unable to achieve this.

Thank you for your help.

double slip connections.jpg (83.28 Kb)

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-10-08 23:48 Netherlands

Hi Garry,

I don't fully understand your wiring. I mean, it may be right, but I cannot conclude it from your drawing.

I'll try to explain my suggestion without drawing, hope it's clear to you:

You have blocks 1..4 on the left. I assume (well, you should) have 4 blocks on the right, say 5..8 counting bottom up. Name your turnouts:
T1 = the one with 1.4.2 next to it
T2 = the one with 2.4.2 next to it
T3 = the one with 3.6.2 next to it
T4 = the one with 4.1.0 next to it
T5 = the one with 3.1.0 next to it
T6 = the one with 2.1.0 next to it
T7 = the one with 1.1.0 next to it
You can avoid the separation between T3 and T5. There is no way a train can use T5 without using T3, so whatever you feed to T3, you can always derive power for T5 from T3. This saves one relay and some complexity.

Now use
Relay1 to choose feed for T2 from Block2 or Block1(=T1)
Relay2 to choose feed for T3+T5 from Block3 or T2
Relay3 to choose feed for T6 from Block6 or Block5(=T7)

Best regards, Leon

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Posted by garry.andrew@sky.com on 2021-10-10 00:01

Hi Leon,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I fully agree with your suggestion which is in fact what I had originally configured without any success (and what I have now returned to). The more complex variation I supplied was my (latest) attempt to resolve the problem, in the belief I had wired it incorrectly the first time.

Despite returning to the configuration you have suggested, the problem remains. Logic dictates that if three of the possible four routes are working, then the wiring must be correct. I am beginning to think that the problem may lie within the double slip turnout itself. Fleischmann turnouts appear quite complex with contacts that move when the turnout is switched. I am wondering if one of these contacts is faulty (despite it being a new piece of track).

I have tried turning the track through 180 degrees, however this did not duplicate the problem between tracks 3 and 4 as I had anticipated. In fact the track failed to operate in any direction. (The Fleischmann manual for the double slip does indicate that where more than one unit is installed they both have to be facing in the same direction as indicated by a (not too obvious) arrow on the end sleeper).

My next plan is to return the track to its original orientation, then try to bridge the potentially faulty contact. I will let you know what happens.

Thank you once again for your help which is greatly appreciated.

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-10-19 12:33 Netherlands

Garry,

Any luck with the problem?
If not I guess you should be able to measure with a multimeter that all left hand tracks are connected. Same for all right hand tracks. I don't think there's any "intelligence" in this turnout as F* does with the normal turnouts.

Leon

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Posted by garry.andrew@sky.com on 2021-10-19 20:42

Hi Leon,

Thank you for your message. You will be pleased to learn that I have resolved the problem. Bridging the rails didn't work, so I removed the offending piece of track, inserted a replacement and using the connections you suggested in your original response to my problem everything now works as expected.

Thank you so much for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

Garry

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Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2021-10-21 11:34 Netherlands

Perfect. Thanks for your feedback!
Leon

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