Nobodies gonna chime in and tell him about the track ? Well you guys will get to know me sooner or later.
Carl, that brass track can be described as nothing less then HIGH MAINTENANCE. .
I tend to disagree with you! I have been using Brass track for 40+yrs!
I don't have a problem with brass. OH did I mention I use it OUTSIDE less than 600yds from the beach, where salt spray should cause electrolysis between the rails (when wet from the 12v pos & neg powered rails).
yes the track gets dirty, bird crap usually, oxidation, yes if I do not use the track often enough.
One 12v 2amp feed to the rails over 300' of track, no jumper wires over joiners.
Yes there are different compounds of brass, but mine is just el cheapo brass rail no exotic metals added to resist corrosion etc.
I consider outside a hasher environment than inside in an airconditioned atmosphere so where is the problem?
1 loco wheels? all wheels make good contact with rail?@
2 do any of you clean inside the rail joiners before assembly? (bright metal clean?)
3 tight rail joiners? for good electrical connection!*
4 oil & crud from your wheels?
5 do you check with a multimeter the total resistance of the circuit of rail, every now & again?
@ if the wheels lose contact with the rail you get a spark as contact is lost then another as contact is regained, ie a spark erosion device.
* I assembled my rail joiners, bright metal clean first, secondly I used a dab of high temp graphite grease to help seal the tight fit joiner from moisture. The graphite grease does not conduct electricity, but seals out the moisture & therefore corrosion.
sorry this turned into a rant & rave..........
warning don't ask me about ali rail!:mrgreen:
Tony