Large Scale Central

Bridgeworks and TE

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

Does anyone have a Bridgeworks controller connected to a Train Engineer? Mine used to work fine and no longer does.

The controller works fine without the TE.

I connect the TE to the controller and I’m not getting any power to the unit. When it first occurred I sent the TE to Aristocraft and they said it was fine. I never got it to work and bought another basic TE. When the controller worked fine and the TE didn’t I took it back and exchanged it. No luck.

There is no power to the TE, I’m out of guesses about what’s wrong. Any ideas?

#2

That’s the set-up we have at the Colo. RR Museum. What’s the voltage coming out of the Bridgewerks to the TE? I know Bridgewerks are known for higher-than-normal voltages, so I’d look to make sure I’m not feeding more than 24 volts to the TE.

Later,

K

#3

What Kevin said - but also know that the TE has a minimum voltage too around 12 Volts. Also, you must be sure the output from your power supply is sending Plus to the Red wire. If it is reversed the TE will do nothing. Finally, Check the red 10A fuse with a meter.

#4

I have the plug to track power and running ro the TE. It does seem to be blowing 10 amp fuses when power to the track is only about halfway up. Because of my eyesight I’m depending on my hearing when I blow my fuse

I tried to check the voltage but I don’t think the tester is working right since at full throttle I’m getting -32!

#5
Doug Arnold said:
I tried to check the voltage but I don't think the tester is working right since at full throttle I'm getting -32!
I think your tester is right and that's why the TE isn't working. Flip the Forward/Reverse switch on the Bridgeworks and see what reading you get. If it's + 32, dial it down around 24, note the throttle setting, then turn Brideworks off. Hook up the TE and power up again.
#6

Thank you! I was able to get back to the layout this morning and followed Ken’s thread. In 10 minutes I was up and running without any problems.

It’s too bad Aristocraft couldn’t have answered that question a year ago!

And Bridgeworks couldn’t answer the question since they don’t have an email address.

But, alas, everything is right with the wotld!

#7

So what was the problem?

#8

I’m sorry Jon, it was exactly what you said and so was the fix!

#9

Thanks Doug! Glad you got it working.

#10

You the man Jon!
:wink:

#11

The Forney smiled all afternoon!

#12

Now that I’m up and going I have another question. I never set my throttle wide open except when I was setting up the TE. At that time I figured it would give me a wider speed range on the TE. Since I run smaller engines I now know that doesn’t matter.

But if you are running larger engines and longer trains wouldn’t that 32-volt output from the Bridgeworks controller adversely affect the larger locos? Couldn’t it lead to the motors in those engines burning out?

#13

I’m going to defer that question to a Bridgeworks expert, which I am not.

#14

I’m just glad the problem is solved. A friend is running large steamers on the layout next week and I would not have been a happy camper if he burned up an engine!

#15

32 volts is too high for any loco I have encountered, never seen anything over 27 be useful (lgb track cleaning loco)… anything over 24 normally starts burning lights out.

One of the issues with Bridgeworks, it can put out too high of a voltage… people need to watch it. The TE will often flip out over 22 volts… some are fine up to 24…

Greg

#16

My TE burped fuses over about 24 volts.

#17

I’ve had the same problem with the same set up. Bridgewerks says its normal under no load for the constant output to be the 32 V I get with my meter.

For years, I ran the TE off this output. I don’t know how to measure the output under load, but the system worked well for a long time. Now while the handheld seems to work, the controller seems to be dead. Now I’ll check to make sure polarity is correct.

I may have to reprogram the hand held itself.

#18

That’s exactly the same problem I’m having. I’m very disappointed in Bridgeworks. Aristioraft tried to help.

#19

I need to pick up a third power supply for a new loop…The seemingly excessive voltage output of the Bridgeworks transformers has kept me from considering them. They seem to be well built units but the voltage issue is one I just don’t want to have to think about. Currently running the Revo with two MRC “Power G” transformers. No idea how the Revo would handle the higher voltage.

Do the BW units have a voltage limit switch like some MRC’s?

#20

Ni there isn’t. I think that Bridgeworks transformer has fried my second TE. I’m not a happy camper.